title: Laboratory tests for the phytoextraction of heavy metals from polluted harbor sediments using aquatic plants.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the concentrations and pollution levels of heavy metals, organochlorine pesticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments from the Leghorn Harbor (Italy) on the Mediterranean Sea. The phytoextraction capacity of three aquatic plants Salvinia natans, Vallisneria spiralis, and Cabomba aquatica was also tested in the removal of lead and copper, present in high concentration in these sediments. The average detectable concentrations of metals accumulated by the plants in the studied area were as follows: >3.328 ± 0.032 mg/kg dry weight (DW) of Pb and 2.641 ± 0.014 mg/kg DW of Cu for S. natans, >3.107 ± 0.034 g/kg DW for V. spiralis, and >2.400 ± 0.029 mg/kg DW for C. aquatica. The occurrence of pesticides was also analyzed in the sediment sample by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Due to its metal and organic compound accumulation patterns, S. natans is a potential candidate in phytoextraction strategies.
authors.affiliation: Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, 11 Arany János st., 400028 Cluj Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mânzatu
authors.affiliation: Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, 11 Arany János st., 400028 Cluj Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Boldizsár
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nagy
authors.affiliation: University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, 3 Giuseppe Moruzzi st., 56124 Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: alessio@dcci.unipi.it.
authors.forename: Alessio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ceccarini
authors.affiliation: University of Pisa, Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, 22 C.F Gabba st., 56122 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iannelli
authors.affiliation: University of Pisa, Department of Chemistry and Industrial Chemistry, 3 Giuseppe Moruzzi st., 56124 Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannarelli
authors.affiliation: Babeş-Bolyai University, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemistry, 11 Arany János st., 400028 Cluj Napoca, Romania. Electronic address: majdik@chem.ubbcluj.ro.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Majdik
mesh_terms: D059001:Aquatic Organisms / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003300:Copper / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D031321:Hydrocharitaceae / Q000378:metabolism; D007558:Italy; D007753:Laboratories; D007854:Lead / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013045:Species Specificity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010575:Pesticides; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D007854:Lead; D003300:Copper
keywords: Aquatic plants; Heavy metals; Marine sediments; Organochlorine pesticides; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons