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Selection of plant genotypes from Kazakhstan flora contributing to alleviation of heavy metal hazard to human and animal health

Ziel

The overall objective of this project is to identify and select plant species and genotypes with either high or low heavy metal accumulation capacity to improve human and animal health via reduction of heavy metal transfer into the food chain or phytoextraction of metal-polluted soils.
The specific research objectives are:
To select the most suitable species for phytoextraction of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn from polluted soils (hyper accumulators) and species with low accumulation capacity for use as cattle forage under the climatic conditions in Kazakhstan.
To demonstrate that the method of phytoremediation of contaminated soils can be efficient, cost-effective and suitable for upscaling under the prevailing edaphic and climatic conditions in Kazakhstan.
To enhance our understanding of the mechanisms of uptake, transport and accumulation of Cu, Cd, Pb and Zn in the species selected.
The working program comprises broad-scale screening for accumulator and non-accumulator plants among the native flora growing on metallioferous soils in Kazakhstan and analysis of grass species for their heavy metals concentrations in shoots and roots. Soil samples will be taken from the same area and also will be analysed on heavy metal content. Grass species with high and low content of heavy metals will be selected for experiments under controlled conditions.
Seedlings of grass species of the family Gramineae, will be grown under controlled conditions in hydroponic solutions with different concentrations of heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu). Based on this screening, selected species will be planted on soils artificially contaminated by Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn in order to assess the impact of these metals on growth and production of roots and shoots biomass. Metal-tolerant species and genotypes with the ability to either exclude or (hyper)accumulate heavy metals in their shoots will be individuated and evaluated for their potential use in the production of forage and phytoremediation respectively. The proposed research work is deemed to contribute substantially to the development of novel technologies for the phytoextraction of heavy metals from soils.

The climatic and edaphic conditions in Kazakhstan are representative of other countries in the general region where metal-contaminated soils are a serious threat to human and environmental health.

Phytoremediation technologies provide an inexpensive alternative to traditional engineering techniques to clean up metal-contaminated soils and minimise potential impacts on human health at heavily polluted sites. The proposed research will result in field demonstration of phytoextraction in Kazakhstan and initiate technology transfer. The utilisation of native plant species will provide the opportunity for local businesses to develop. The economic potential of phytoextraction is apparent for many countries in the region where extensive areas of heavy-metal contaminated soils from anthropogenic activities require effective and inexpensive treatment. Recycling of heavy metals for standard metal markets, and burning of the biomass to recover the energy and ash will be additional incentives for local farmers. On the other hand, the individuation of forage grass species and genotypes with low capacity for metal accumulation in shoots will support cleaner food production at moderately polluted sites.

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IACR-Rothamsted
EU-Beitrag
Keine Daten
Adresse
West Common
AL52JQ Harpenden, Herts
Vereinigtes Königreich

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Letzte Aktualisierung: 30 Oktober 2002

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/INTAS-2000-00203/de

European Union, 2024