Accumulation of heavy metals and antioxidant responses in Vicia faba plants grown on monometallic contaminated soil

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2013-02, Vol.20 (2), p.1124-1134
• Main Authors: Nadgórska-Socha, Aleksandra, Kafel, Alina, Kandziora-Ciupa, Marta, Gospodarek, Janina, Zawisza-Raszka, Agnieszka
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Antioxidants - metabolism; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioavailability; Biological Availability; Biomass; Biomonitoring; Cadmium; Catalase - metabolism; Contamination; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Enzymes; Experiments; Glutathione; Glutathione - metabolism; Guaiacol; Heavy metal content; Heavy metals; Leaves; Metal concentrations; Metals, Heavy - pharmacokinetics; Nickel; Peroxidase; Peroxidase - metabolism; Plant Leaves - drug effects; Plant Leaves - metabolism; Plant Stems - drug effects; Plant Stems - metabolism; Proline; Proline - metabolism; Protein thiols; Proteins; Research Article; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - pharmacokinetics; Soil pollution; Stems; Studies; Sulfhydryl Compounds - metabolism; Thiols; Vicia faba; Vicia faba - drug effects; Vicia faba - growth & development; Vicia faba - metabolism; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-012-1191-7

The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of soil contamination by selected metals (cadmium, copper, nickel, lead or zinc) on the antioxidant response of Vicia faba plants. The levels of the antioxidants: glutathione, proline, non-protein thiols, as well as guaiacol peroxidase and catalase activities were measured in the upperparts of plants. Additionally, the potential bioavailability of metals in the soil and their concentrations in V. faba plants were compared. Treatment with metal caused the problem of an elevation in its bioavailability in soil and its concentration in leaves and stems. The most serious problems seemed to be metal elevations in soil, especially Zn and Ni as well as in the aerial parts of V. faba plants. The antioxidant responses appeared to be metal specific. The elevation of guaiacol peroxidase activity in leaves and stems as well as the proline in leaves was the only more general reaction to metal exposure. Upon analysis of the effects of soil metal contamination on V. faba plants, we recommend the use of some measurements such as guaiacol peroxidase activity and proline level as useful tools in biological monitoring.