PJB-2008-85
LEVEL OF HEAVY METALS IN THE FOLIAGE OF NATURALLY GROWING PLANTS COLLECTED FROM KORANGI AND LANDHI INDUSTRIAL AREAS OF KARACHI CITY, PAKISTAN
SYED ATIQ-UR-REHMAN 1 AND MUHAMMAD ZAFAR IQBAL2
Abstract
The accumulation of heavy metals of Fe, Pb, Cu, Cr and Zn was determined in the foliage of naturally growing plants of Prosopis juliflora Swartz, Abutilon indicum (L.) Sweet and Senna holosericea (Fresen.) Greuter, which were collected from various factories in the vicinity of Korangi and Landhi industrial areas of Karachi. High concentration of ferric and lead was observed in the foliage of A. indicum which were collected from Tanveer Garment factory as compared to foliage collected from a control area of Karachi University Campus. The level of copper and chromium was highest in the foliage of S. holosericea at Khan Towel factory than control site. Khan Towel factory also caused considerably high amount of lead in the foliage of P. juliflora as related to control site. The excessive copper was recorded in foliage of A. indicum at One Tech Ply Board factory as compared to control site. The foliage of S. holosericea showed highest concentration of zinc at One Tech Rubber factory as compared to control area. The research demonstrated that accumulation of different metals was generally higher in the foliage of naturally growing plants collected from the industrial areas.
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