title: Phytoremediation for co-contaminated soils of chromium and benzo[a]pyrene using Zea mays L.
abstract: A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the single effect of benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) or chromium (Cr) and the joint effect of Cr-B[a]P on the growth of Zea mays, its uptake and accumulation of Cr, and the dissipation of B[a]P over 60 days. Results showed that single or joint contamination of Cr and B[a]P did not affect the plant growth relative to control treatments. However, the occurrence of B[a]P had an enhancing effect on the accumulation and translocation of Cr. The accumulation of Cr in shoot of plant significantly increased by ≥ 79 % in 50 mg kg(-1) Cr-B[a]P (1, 5, and 10 mg kg(-1)) treatments and by ≥ 86 % in 100 mg kg(-1) Cr-B[a]P (1, 5, and 10 mg kg(-1)) treatments relative to control treatments. The presence of plants did not enhance the dissipation of B[a]P in lower (1and 5 mg kg(-1)) B[a]P contaminated soils; however, over 60 days of planting Z. mays seemed to enhance the dissipation of B[a]P by over 60 % in 10 mg kg(-1) single contaminated soil and by 28 to 41 % in 10 mg kg(-1)B[a]P co-contaminated soil. This suggests that Z. mays might be a useful plant for the remediation of Cr-B[a]P co-contaminated soil.
authors.affiliation: School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK, chuddychigbo@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Chibuike
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chigbo
authors.forename: Lesley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Batty
mesh_terms: D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002857:Chromium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002857:Chromium; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene