Amount of Mn and Zn in herbaceous plants growing on industrial area of steel production companies in southeast of Ahvaz, Iran

In the present study, a field study was performed on some herbaceous plants growing in thesoutheast of Ahvaz, where some metal producing industries are active. The aim of this studywas to investigate and compare manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) accumulation in seven dominantherbaceous plants in this area. Plant samples were collected randomly. Associated soils weresampled from the same sites next to the root of individual plants. The metals concentration inthe soil and the plant samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry.Highest Mn and Zn concentrations were observed in the shoots of Halocnemum strobilaceum,Taraxacum kotschyi, Malva parviflora, and Solanum nigrum. Moreover, elevated accumulationof Mn was found in the roots of Lolium temulentum, and Convolvulus arvensis. Regarding todefined standards for phytoremediation purposes, studied plants could not be classified ashyperaccumulators, at least under field conditions. Nevertheless, based on accountedbioconcentration and translocation factors, it seems that the majority of investigated plants havethe metals accumulation capacity in shoot parts.