title: Biochemical and Metabolic Changes in Arsenic Contaminated Boehmeria nivea L.
abstract: Arsenic (As) is identified by the EPA as the third highest toxic inorganic contaminant. Almost every 9th or 10th human in more than 70 countries including mainland China is affected by As. Arsenic along with other toxins not only affects human life but also creates alarming situations such as the deterioration of farm lands and desertion of industrial/mining lands. Researchers and administrators have agreed to opt for phytoremediation of As over costly cleanups. Boehmeria nivea L. can soak up various heavy metals, such as Sb, Cd, Pb, and Zn. But the effect of As pollution on the biology and metabolism of B. nivea has been somewhat overlooked. This study attempts to evaluate the extent of As resistance, chlorophyll content, and metabolic changes in As-polluted (5, 10, 15, and 20 mg L(-1) As) B. nivea in hydroponics. Toxic effects of As in the form of inhibited growth were apparent at the highest level of added As. The significant changes in the chlorophyll, electrolyte leakage, and H2O2, significant increases in As in plant parts, catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA), with applied As revealed the potential of B. nivea for As decontamination. By employing the metabolic machinery of B. nivea, As was sustainably removed from the contaminated areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Hussani
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mubarak
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China; Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Nosheen
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mirza
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Li-Yuan
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Chai
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Zhi-Hui
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Wang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yong
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410083, China; National Engineering Research Center for Control and Treatment of Heavy Metal Pollution, Changsha 410083, China.
authors.forename: Chong-Jian
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Qaisar
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Mahmood
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Arshid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pervez
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Abbottabad 22060, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Umar
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.affiliation: College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei 430070, China.
authors.forename: Shah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fahad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology (CIIT), Vehari, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Wajid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Nasim
authors.affiliation: The UWA Institute of Agriculture, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
authors.forename: Kadambot H M
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Siddique
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D032402:Boehmeria / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008906:Mining; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic