Impact of arsenic on uptake and bio-accumulation of antimony by arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) 2013-03, Vol.174, p.128-133
• Main Authors: Müller, K., Daus, B., Mattusch, J., Vetterlein, D., Merbach, I., Wennrich, R.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antimonate; Antimony; Antimony - analysis; Antimony - metabolism; Applied sciences; Arsenate; Arsenic; Arsenic - analysis; Arsenic - metabolism; bioaccumulation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Contamination; Decontamination. Miscellaneous; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment and pollution; Exact sciences and technology; fronds; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Metalloid species; Miscellaneous; polluted soils; Pollution; Pollution abatement; Pollution, environment geology; Pteris - metabolism; Pteris vittata; Quartz; Roots; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Speciation; Uptake competition; Uptakes
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2012.10.024

Individual uptake of As and Sb species in Pteris vittata have been investigated, but little information is available how uptake is affected if both metalloids are simultaneously present in different amounts. We investigated the uptake of antimony and its speciation in Pteris vittata cultivated in quartz substrate with, versus without, co-contamination with arsenic and a contaminated soil for 7 weeks. Applying HPLC-ICP-MS technique Sb(V), Sb(III), As(III), and As(V) could be identified as main species in aqueous extracts of roots and fronds with up to 230 mg kg−1 of total Sb in the roots. Adding increasing amounts of As to the quartz substrate resulted in increasing uptake of Sb. In contrast to As, which is readily transferred to the fronds, Sb is primarily accumulated in the roots with Sb(V) being the dominant species (>90% of Sb). The addition of As doesn't result in enhanced translocation of Sb into the fronds. [Display omitted] ► Antimonate is bioavailable to P. vittata grown for 7 weeks in different substrates. ► Antimony is primarily accumulated in the roots with Sb(V) being the dominant species. ► Sb(III) is present to a somewhat higher portion in the fronds than in the roots. ► Increasing amounts of As(V) in substrate resulted in increasing uptake of Sb(V). ► Addition of As is not accompanied by any alteration of Sb translocation to fronds. Roots of Pteris vittata cultivated under green-house conditioned in substrates containing antimonate accumulates Sb(V). This was promoted by As(V).