The uptake of zinc, lead, arsenic and mercury in four plant species in a polluted region of Portugal

• Autor(a) principal: Marques, Ana P. G. C.
• Data de Publicação: 2003
• Outros Autores: Rangel, António O. S. S., Castro, Paula M. L.
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.14/6196

The region of Estarreja is known for its strong industrial complex, composed essentially by chemical facilities. For several years, several of these industries have discharged its solid residues in an improvised park in the surrounding area, and conducted its wastewaters into a stream nearby (“Esteiro de Estarreja”). Therefore, the levels of Pb, Zn, As and Hg in the sediments of this stream, to a depth of 50 cm, are above the limits established by EC Directive 86/278/EC1. Nevertheless, in the banks of the stream, the vegetation remains proliferous. Three plant species, present in a larger amount, were collected from that area and were tested for the content of the above metals. The purpose of this study is to identify plant species endemic to the site and to determine their ability to uptake heavy metals.