PJB-2008-86
CHICORY (CICHORIUM INTYBUS L.): A POSSIBLE BIOMONITOR OF METAL POLLUTION
A. AKSOY
Abstract
Leaves of Cichorium intybus L., (Chicory) were tested as a possible biomonitor of heavy metal pollution in Kayseri, Turkey. Forty-five sites (industrial, urban, roadside, suburban and rural) in and around Kayseri were investigated. The mean heavy metal concentrations in industrial site and roadside were non-significantly higher than the urban, suburban sites, significantly higher than rural sites in washed and unwashed leaves of C. intybus. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn were determined in unwashed and washed leaves and soils collected from a wide range of sites with different degrees of metal pollution. Differences between the unwashed and washed samples varied according to the metal pollutant levels. The mean Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu concentrations in industrial site were non-significantly higher than the roadside, urban and suburban sites, significantly higher than rural sites in soil. Significant correlations were obtained between the heavy metal concentrations in surface soil and washed leaf samples. C. intybus was found to be a useful biomonitor of the investigated heavy metals.
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