Sorption of pollutants by plant detritus: a review

Journal Article · Fri Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1978 · Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.7827133· OSTI ID:6671980

Odum, W E; Driftmeyer, J E

Detritus particles derived from the decomposition of vascular plants appear to have a high sorptive capability for a wide range of pollutants. Evidence is presented and revised which shows detrital concentration of heavy metals, radionuclides, and organochlorine insecticides. A study of a roadside marsh indicates that lead originating from automobile exhausts may reach concentrations as high as 1415 ppM on marshgrass detritus. We suggest that these elevated concentrations may, in turn, be passed on to detritivores which ingest the contaminated particles and experience desorption and assimilation of the pollutant within the digestive tract. Finally, potential mechanisms are listed which might explain detrital sorption; these include: microbial uptake (adsorption and metabolic absorption), association with detrital and microbial lipids, electrostatic adsorption in response to charges on the detritus particles, and formation of complexes and chelates at active sites on the organic molecules of the decomposing detritus.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Virginia, Charlottesville
• OSTI ID: 6671980
• Journal Information: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States), Journal Name: Environ. Health Perspect.; (United States) Vol. 27; ISSN EVHPA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550500 -- Metabolism
560303* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Plants-- (-1987)
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AFFINITY
BINDING ENERGY
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
DETRITUS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE PATHWAY
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
INSECTICIDES
ISOTOPES
LEAD
MASS TRANSFER
METABOLISM
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
PARTICLES
PESTICIDES
PLANTS
QUANTITY RATIO
RADIOISOTOPES
SORPTION
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
UPTAKE