Phytoremediation potential of Suaeda vera for some heavy metals in roadside soil in Benghazi, Libya

Abstract

The increased concentrations of heavy metals in soil pose a threat to human life through the food chain. Soil and plant samples from the coastal area of Benghazi city were collected and analyzed using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (FAAS) for their heavy metal contents. The metal content of Cu, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Pb has been determined in the soil in the vicinity of plant roots, plant roots, and leaves. Biological absorption coefficient (BAC), bioconcentration factor (BCF), and translocation factor (TF) have been calculated to evaluate the ability of <em>Suaeda</em> <em>vera</em> to extract the metals from soil. The results showed that <em>Suaeda</em> <em>vera</em> Forssk. Ex J.F. Gmel is more suitable for phytoextraction than the phytostabilisation. Phytoremediation as a green technology has many advantages over the other methods of heavy metals removal from soils.