HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH SEDIMENT PROPERTIES IN EDIBLE RHIZOME LOTUS (NELUMBO NUCIFERA GAERTN.) FROM AN UNCONTAMINATED FIELD

Authors Liu, Wenxia; Chen, Yuanqi; Liu, Zhen; Zhao, Yong

Journal FRESENIUS ENVIRONMENTAL BULLETIN , 2012,5A:21

Abstract The accumulation of heavy metals in the lotus root may cause deleterious effects on human health through their consumption. Concentrations of heavy metals in edible rhizome lotus and the corresponding sediments were investigated in the suburb of Zhengzhou and Kaifeng cities in Henan province, China. Results showed that the concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb in the sediments were below environmental quality standard values, and their concentrations in the edible rhizome lotus were below the maximum permissible level. Their contents decreased in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. Thus, the lotus field was not contaminated with heavy metals, and the rhizome lotus was secure for human consumption. Additionally, their bioconcentration factors (BCF) showed a trend in the order: Cu similar to Zn > Cd > Pb. Further, correlation analysis indicated that Cd and Pb concentrations in rhizome lotus had negative relation with electrical conductivity of the sediment, and contents of Cd and Pb in the rhizome lotus were predominantly affected by salinity cations at low heavy metal concentration in wetland field. The BCF of Pb, Zn, and Cu showed negative correlation with organic material of the sediment. Therefore, the control of sediment salinity decreased accumulation of Pb and Cd in the rhizome lotus, and the addition of organic material debased availability of Pb, Cu, and Zn.

Species covered 莲 Nelumbo nucifera