Pb and Cd accumulation in Avicennia marina from Qeshm Island,

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals Pb and Cd in the mangrove, Avicennia marina, was studied on the southern coast of Iran, particularly on and near Qeshm Island in the Persian Gulf. The samples were collected from 7 stations which they were analyzed by flame Atomic absorption spectrophotometer after chemical digestion. Maximum Pb and Cd in leaves are (34.50, 3.52 ppm) and minimum of them are in stems (2.00, 0.05 ppm) and the accumulation of metals in leaves is more than stems. The different between monitored stations and accumulation of metals in tissues (P≥0.01) was not significant and there was no significant relationship between the leaves and stems of metals concentration (P≥0.05) but it was significant relationship between concentration of Pb and Cd in leaf tissue and stem tissue alone. (P < 0.05). After entering these metals to food chain, are accumulated in human body and this matter may cause some disease by receiving metals more than provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of lead and cadmium, in adults which in 0.025 and 0.007 mg/kg body weight with standards ENHIS.