Calotropis procera is a perennial big shrub that has the potential to accumulate high concentrations of heavy metals. Metal sequestration in old organs has been considered as a mechanism for plant survival in polluted soils. The aim of the present study was to assess the role of the old leaves as a sink for HMs accumulation in C. procera. Two instruments were used: atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) microscopy. Soil and plant samples were collected from around one of the worst congested traffic areas in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Samples from roots, stem, and green and old leaves were prepared and analyzed by both instruments. Calotropis procera was able to concentrate Fe, Mn, Sr, and Zn in the roots, but their translocation to stem and green leaves was low. Old leaves had greater ability to accumulate significantly higher concentrations of different metals, especially Fe and Sr, than other parts of the plants, indicating that C. procera uses these metabolically less-active leaves as sinks for heavy metals. Fe and Sr attained higher bioconcentration and accumulation values, compared to Zn and Mn. There were significant positive correlations between XRF and AAS for all elements in the different organs.
Keywords: Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS); XRF microscopy; heavy metals; phytoremediation; traffic pollution.