Phytoextraction potential of Sporobulus pyramidalis found in an abandoned battery industry environment in Nigeria

Abstract

The levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Sb and V) in Sporobulus pyramidalis plant species from an abandoned battery industry environment were determined during the wet and dry seasons as follows: The ranges in metal concentrations during the wet and dry seasons were 0.002, 0.420, 0.036 and 36.10 µg g⁻¹, respectively. The coefficients of variation for the metals during wet and dry seasons ranged between none to 151.724% and 13.838–214.935%, respectively. The results showed higher levels of the metals in S. pyramidalis during the dry than wet season. Results obtained from both wet and dry season when compared with background values, Federal Environmental Protection Agency and other international standards revealed that the plant species accumulated high levels of these heavy metals which was evident in concentrations exceeding maximum tolerable limits. The health implications of consuming this plant and any other plant or crop within this environment are discussed.

Keywords:

• Heavy metal
• Sporobulus pyramidalis
• phytoextraction
• battery

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) Laboratory and the University of Uyo, Central Research Laboratory for the analysis of the plant samples.