Detection of lead in Zea mays by dual-energy X-ray microtomography at the SYRMEP beamline of the ELETTRA synchrotron and by atomic absorption spectroscopy.
This study is related to the application of the X-ray dual-energy microradiography technique together with the atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) for the detection of lead on Zea mays stem, ear, root, and leaf samples. To highlight the places with lead intake, the planar radiographs taken with monochromatic X-ray radiation in absorption regime with photon energy below and above the absorption edge of a given chemical element, respectively, are analyzed and processed. To recognize the biological structures involved in the intake, the dual-energy images with the lead signal have been compared with the optical images of the same Z. mays stem. The ear, stem, root, and leaf samples have also been analyzed with the AAS technique to measure the exact amount of the hyperaccumulated lead. The AAS measurement revealed that the highest intake occurred in the roots while the lowest in the maize ears and in the leaf. It seems there is a particular mechanism that protects the seeds and the leaves in the intake process.
Reale
Lucia
L
Faculty of Sciences, University of L'Aquila, gc-LNGS INFN, INFM Coppito, 67010 L'Aquila, Italy.
Kaiser
Jozef
J
Pace
Loretta
L
Lai
Antonia
A
Flora
Francesco
F
Angelosante Bruno
Antonella
A
Tucci
Adele
A
Zuppella
Paola
P
Mancini
Lucia
L
Tromba
Giuliana
G
Ruggieri
Fabrizio
F
Fanelli
Maria
M
Malina
Radomir
R
Liska
Miroslav
M
Poma
Anna
A
D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis*; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D018517:Plant Roots / Q000737:chemistry; D018547:Plant Stems / Q000737:chemistry; D013054:Spectrophotometry, Atomic / Q000379:methods*; D017356:Synchrotrons; D055114:X-Ray Microtomography / Q000379:methods*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*
D007854:Lead