TITLE:
Lead Phytoremediation in Contaminated Soils Using Ornamental Landscape Plants
AUTHORS:
Danna Thompson, Edward Bush, Heather Kirk-Ballard
KEYWORDS:
Soil Heavy Metals, Remediation, Soil Health, Urban Horticulture, Phytoextraction
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Geoscience and Environment Protection,
Vol.9 No.5,
May
31,
2021
ABSTRACT: Lead (Pb) in the urban environment can have a
negative effect on human health, especially children’s health. Reducing
elevated Pb exposure in the home landscape is essential. The purpose of this
study was to determine which ornamental groundcover landscape plants uptake Pb
from contaminated soil. Plants for both shade and sun were selected. Plants for
shade [Brake fern (Pteris vittata),
Asian Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum),
“Big Blue” Liriope (Liriope muscari), and St. Augustinegrass (Stenotaphrum secundatum)] and sun
[Variegated Liriope (Liriope muscari “Variegata”), Asian Jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum), Asparagus Fern (Asparagus setaceus), and Bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon)] adapted landscape
groundcover plants successfully assimilated Pb grown in soil containing 250 ppm
and 500 ppm Pb concentrations. Additionally, soil movement at both 25 mph and
50 mph wind speed was significantly different, with increased soil movement at
50 mph. Therefore, it was determined that landscape plants adapted to both sun
and shade can help remove Pb from contaminated soils and stabilize soil
particles reducing the movement of soil and be aesthetically pleasing.