Comparative assessment of heavy metal accumulation and bio-indication in coastal dune halophytes.

This study aimed at assessing heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Cr and Pb) in four perennial halophytes (viz. Heliotropium bacciferum, Halopyrum mucronatum, Ipomoea pes-caprae and Salsola imbricata) growing at two sites on the Karachi coast. Site - II, closer to the Industrial area had higher bioavailability as well as translocation factor (TF) for most of the heavy metals and Na where soil sediments had lower pH (approximately 7.5), higher salinity (EC) and organic matter (OM). Site - I which was far from Industrial area had comparatively higher bio-concentration factor (BCF) and lower TF for metal ions and soil pH of 8.1-9. Metal accumulation in plants was both site and species specific. Extractable concentration of shoot Pb in all tested halophytes was above normal of the threshold values (i.e., >0.3 mg kg) while Mn (<50 mg kg) and Cu (<40 mg kg) were within permissible limits. Salsola imbricata had highest Na at both sites (site - I = 73; site - II = 98 mg kg) with and 10 mg kg extractable shoot Pb at site - I. Ipomea pes-caprae also accumulated shoot Pb higher than normal (site - I = 3.3; site - II = 0.8 mg kg) with lowest Na content. Heliotropium bacciferum had higher extractable Pb (site - I = 10.5; II = 2.75) with >20 mg kg Na in shoot while maintaining > 1 TF for Pb, Cu, Mn and Zn at site - I and all tested metals at site - II. Halopyrum mucronatum had highest shoot Fe (644 mg kg), Zn (63 mg kg) and Cr (9.2 mg kg) at site - II and above threshold values of Pb at both sites (site - I = 8.2; site - II = 2.5 mg kg) which makes this species an ideal bio-indicator candidate while other species could be potentially used for Pb phytoremediation.