Phytoextraction of Some Selected Heavy Metals in Contaminated Soil by Arabian Jasmine (Jasminum sambac)

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination in soil is a significant environmental and health concern. This study investigates the potential of Arabian jasmine (Jasminum sambac) for phytoremediation of heavy metals in soil. The plants were grown in pots using soil samples collected from contaminated dumpsite soils of Dana Steel Limited in Katsina Metropolis; their ability to accumulate and remove heavy metals was assessed. An atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) was used to measure the concentrations of metals in plants and soil. The statistical analysis of the data obtained was carried out using a t-test. The amounts of the metals under study in the polluted soil before planting were found to be higher than the values from the control soil: Cu (6.49±1.88 mg/kg), Ni (2.67±1.09 mg/kg), Cd (0.20±0.08 mg/kg), Pb (17.57±7.39 mg/kg), Zn (1.63±0.03 mg/kg), and Cr (8.01±2.68 mg/kg). The Bioaccumulation factor for Jasminum sambac was less than one (BAF<1) for all the studied heavy metals: Cu (0.10), Ni (0.32), Cd (0.87), Pb (0.30), Zn (0.02) and Cr (0.30), indicating a low bioaccumulation capacity. However, the transfer factor for Jasminum sambac was greater than 1 (TF>1) in Cu (3.35), Pb (3.00) and Cr (1.97), suggesting that the transfer rate of these heavy metals from soil into the plant's tissues was higher. These findings suggest that using this plant in phytoremediation can be a viable and sustainable approach to reducing heavy metals contamination in soil, thereby offering a potential solution to a significant environmental problem.