PHYTOEXTRACTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SELECTED PLANTS

Phytoremediation defines the use of plants and their associated microbes to extract, sequester, and/or detoxify various kinds of environmental pollutants from water, sediment, soils, and air. Many environmental factors and pollutants have influence on the plant life circle, and the metals are one of them. However, when taken up in excessive quantities, these elements are transferred into the food chain where they may have adverse effects on the health of animals and humans. The primary goal of the presented research was to develop a methodological framework for prediction of pollutant/plant interactions. In this case, the pollutants were zinc, thin and copper, which were generated in the environment by the heavy traffic. The three plants Prunus laurocerasus, Ilex aquifolium and Buxus sempervirens were used as the bio-indicators for the analysis of metals' life circle in the plants in order to quantify the possible remediation potential. As the result of this research, the simulation of the metal/plant interaction was done via correlation models, which can be used for screening tests of possible plant remediation candidates.