Accumulation and distribution of metal(loid)s in the halophytic saltmarsh shrub, Austral seablite, Suaeda australis in New South Wales, Australia

Md Rushna Alam; Thi Kim Anh Tran; Taylor J Stein; Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman; Andrea S Griffin; Richard Man Kit Yu; Geoff R MacFarlane

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112475

Accumulation and distribution of metal(loid)s in the halophytic saltmarsh shrub, Austral seablite, Suaeda australis in New South Wales, Australia

Mar Pollut Bull. 2021 Aug:169:112475. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112475. Epub 2021 May 19.

Authors

Md Rushna Alam¹, Thi Kim Anh Tran², Taylor J Stein³, Mohammad Mahmudur Rahman⁴, Andrea S Griffin⁵, Richard Man Kit Yu³, Geoff R MacFarlane⁶

Affiliations

¹ School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; Department of Aquaculture, Patuakhali Science and Technology University, Dumki, Patuakhali 8602, Bangladesh.
² School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; School of Agriculture and Resources, Vinh University, Viet Nam.
³ School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
⁴ Global Centre for Environmental Remediation, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
⁵ School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia; School of Psychology, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
⁶ School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. Electronic address: Geoff.macfarlane@newcastle.edu.au.

PMID: 34022559
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112475

Abstract

We examined the patterns of uptake and partitioning of metal(loid)s in Suaeda australis from three highly urbanised estuaries (Sydney Olympic Park, Hunter Wetlands and Lake Macquarie) in NSW, Australia. Of these, Sydney Olympic Park was found to be the most contaminated estuary in terms of combined sediment metal(loid) load, followed by Hunter Wetlands and lowest in Lake Macquarie (via PERMANOVA). Uptake in roots was greater for the essential metals Cu and Zn along with the non-essential metal Cd and the metalloid Se (root BCFs >1) and lower for Pb and As (root BCFs <1). Substantial barriers for translocation from roots to stems were identified for all metal(loid)s (stem TFs; 0.07-0.68). Conversely, unrestricted flow from stems to leaves was observed for all metal(loid)s at unity or higher (leaf TFs ≥ 1). Strong linear relationships between sediment and root for Zn and Pb were observed, indicating roots as a useful bioindicator.

Keywords: Halophyte; Metals and metalloids; Phytoextraction; Phytostabilisation; Saltmarsh.

MeSH terms

Australia
Chenopodiaceae*
Environmental Monitoring
Metalloids* / analysis
Metals, Heavy* / analysis
New South Wales
Salt-Tolerant Plants

Substances

Metalloids
Metals, Heavy