TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ahmadpour, Parisa 
AU  - Nawi, Azmi Mat 
AU  - Abdu, Arifin 
AU  - Abdul-Hamid, Hazandy 
AU  - Singh, Daljit Karam 
AU  - Hassan, Affendy 
AU  - Majid, Nik Muhamad 
AU  - Jusop, Shamshuddin 
PY  - 2010
TI  - Uptake of Heavy Metals by Jatropha curcas L. Planted in Soils Containing Sewage Sludge
JF  - American Journal of Applied Sciences
VL  - 7
IS  - 10
DO  - 10.3844/ajassp.2010.1291.1299
UR  - https://thescipub.com/abstract/ajassp.2010.1291.1299
AB  - Problem statement: The chemical pollution of soil has become a major source of concern
and has posed serious health problems within the last few years in many developed nations. A variety
of organic and inorganic pollutants, including heavy metals, are being mixed in with the cultivated soil
and water. Sewage sludge was one of the major sources of enrichment of heavy metals. These
pollutants are eventually transported to the natural vegetation and cultivated crops and concentrated in
food chains, with possible detrimental effects on human health and wild-life. Thus, soil contaminants
need to be cleaned up to improve environmental safety. Approach: Research was conducted to
elucidate the potential of Jatropha curcas L. to clean toxic heavy metals derived from sewage sludge.
J. curcas seedlings were planted on six different planting media T0 (100% soil-control), T1 (80% soil
and 20% sewage sludge), T2 (60% soil and 40% sewage sludge), T3 (40% soil and 60% sewage
sludge), T4 (20% soil and 80% sewage sludge) and T5 (100% sewage sludge) for a period of three
months. The growth performance, including height and diameter, of J. curcas was measured using
diameter tape, while the basal diameter was measured using a venier caliper every two weeks. Plant
samples were collected after harvest and soil samples were collected before and after planting. The
ICP-MS was used to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the planting medium and plant
parts. Results: According to the growth parameters, the composition of 60% sewage sludge mixed
with 40% soil was suitable for achieving optimum J. curcas growth. This plant was able to remove
heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd and Cu) effectively from the medium containing 100% sewage sludge
and after harvesting, the concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd and Cu in T5(100% sewage sludge medium)
were decreased by 67.7, 78.3, 77.2, 78.5 and 75.0%, respectively from the initial values. The highest
levels of Zn (29.5 mg kg-1), Cu (0.44 mg kg-1) and Cd (8.35 mg kg-1) accumulation were found in the
roots, whereas the highest Pb and Cr concentrations were observed in the leaves and stem,
respectively. Conclusion/Recommendations: The roots of J. curcas were found to be suitable for the
uptake of heavy metals in sewage sludge, especially Zn. Cr was also adsorbed effectively by the leaves.
Thus, J. curcas was a suitable plant to use as a phytoremediator to clean heavy metals, in particular Zn,
Cu and Cr. However, a study determining, the short term effects of the large scale use of sewage sludge
on trees /-field crops/-leafy vegetables and environmental its impact needs to be carried out.