Verbascum bombyciferum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) as possible bio-indicator for the assessment of heavy metals in the environment of Bursa, Turkey

• Published in: Environmental monitoring and assessment 2010-04, Vol.163 (1-4), p.105-113
• Main Authors: Arslan, Hülya, Güleryüz, Gürcan, Leblebici, Zeliha, Kırmızı, Serap, Aksoy, Ahmet
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Assessments; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioindicators; Biomonitoring; Cadmium; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecology; Ecotoxicology; Emission spectroscopy; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environment; Environmental Management; Environmental monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Exact sciences and technology; Heavy metal content; Heavy metals; Indicator species; Lead; Metals; Metals, Heavy - metabolism; Monitoring/Environmental Analysis; Mountains; Organs; Plant communities; Plants (organisms); Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Roads & highways; Roadside; Roadsides; Roots; Ruderal plant; Scrophulariaceae; Soil (material); Soil and sediments pollution; Spectrum analysis; Stems; Studies; Turkey; Vehicle Emissions; Verbascum; Verbascum - metabolism; Verbascum bombyciferum; Zinc
• ISSN: 0167-6369; 1573-2959
• DOI: 10.1007/s10661-009-0820-1

In this study, we determined the heavy metal content (Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Fe³⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺) in the soil surrounding the roots and different organs of Verbascum bombyciferum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae), which is endemic to Uludağ Mountain, Bursa, Turkey. Plant samples were collected from roadsides, and heavy metal accumulation capabilities were tested. This is one of the pioneer species of ruderal plant communities on roadsides, building sites, rubbish dumps, etc. Different organs of plant samples (roots, stems, leaves, and flowers) and their soils were analyzed by inductively couple plasma optical emission spectroscopy for their heavy metal contents. Some of the analyzed heavy metals (Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺) were usually increased depending on the traffic in the sample sites, and this variation was also reflected in heavy metal content of plant samples. Our results show that this plant can be used as a bio-indicator species in the monitoring of increased Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ in the environment. We also concluded that V. bombyciferum have the capability of Cd²⁺, Cr³⁺, Cu²⁺, Ni²⁺, Pb²⁺, and Zn²⁺ accumulation.