Journal of Natural Environment

Evaluation of the efficiency of Phragmites australis in heavy metal uptake from Karoon River sediments

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Nature Engineering, Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources University of Khuzestan, Mollasani, Iran.

10.22059/jne.2025.388252.2749

Abstract

Soil contamination with heavy metals, resulting from human activities such as industry and agriculture, is a serious environmental challenge with adverse effects on soil quality, groundwater, and human and animal health. Traditional soil remediation methods, such as washing and landfilling, are costly and time-consuming. Therefore, the use of novel and low-cost methods such as phytoremediation seems necessary. This method uses plants to remove pollutants from contaminated environments and is recognized as a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution. This study investigates the accumulation of heavy metals lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) in the common reed (Phragmites australis) and sediments of the Karoon River in the Bavi County. Sampling of roots, leaves, and sediment was performed at six stations with three replicates. Metal concentrations were measured using atomic absorption spectrometry and analyzed using SPSS and Excel software. The results showed that the highest accumulation of metals was in the sediment, followed by the roots of the common reed. Also, the concentration of lead (14.15 mg/kg) in the sediment of the common reed was higher compared to cadmium (9.16 mg/kg) and chromium (3.34 mg/kg). This study shows that the common reed, especially its roots, has a good potential for monitoring and absorbing heavy metals in the Karoon River and can be used for phytoremediation strategies. Therefore, future research should focus on investigating new plant species, optimizing phytoremediation systems, and evaluating the economic and social aspects of this method.

Keywords

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Journal of Natural Environment
Volume 78, Monitoring and Management of Natural Environmental Pollutants
June 2025
Pages 243-254