skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Effect, uptake and disposition of nitrobenzene in several terrestrial plants

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:6005481

Eight species of plants were exposed to nitrobenzene in a hydroponic solution. Four species experienced no depression of either transpiration or photosynthetic rates, while one was rapidly killed and the other three were temporarily affected but recovered from the treatment. Uptake of nitrobenzene was passive and was shown to be proportional to the rate of water flux in each species. The transpiration stream concentration factor (TSCF) was 0.72. The root concentration factor (RCF) was variable between the species and was higher than expected, presumably due to deposits of insoluble metabolic products. All of the species examined displayed a capacity to chemically alter nonpolar nitrobenzene into both polar and insoluble products. Volatilization of nitrobenzene from the leaves was a major route of chemical loss.

Research Organization:
Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR (USA). Environmental Research Lab.
OSTI ID:
6005481
Report Number(s):
PB-91-144808/XAB; EPA-600/J-90/267
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Pub. in Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 9, 513-520(1990)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English