Synergistic Effect of Multiple Metals Present at Slightly Lower Concentration than the Australian Investigation Level Can Induce Phytotoxicity

Naser Khan (), Nanthi Bolan, Ian Clark, Sebastian Meier, David Lewis and Miguel A. Sánchez-Monedero
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Naser Khan: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Nanthi Bolan: School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6001, Australia
Ian Clark: UniSA STEM, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia
Sebastian Meier: Instituto de Investigaciones Agropecuarias, INIA Carillanca, Temuco Postal 929, Chile
David Lewis: School of Chemical Engineering, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia
Miguel A. Sánchez-Monedero: Centro de Edafología y Biología Aplicada del Segura (CEBAS-CSIC), Department of Soil Conservation and Waste Management, Campus Universitario de Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain

Land, 2023, vol. 12, issue 3, 1-9

Abstract: An individual trace metal present in a soil at its ecological screening value or investigation level (trigger/threshold) is expected to cause phytotoxicity. However, phytotoxicity may be induced by a mixture of multiple metals, each present at a concentration lower than the corresponding investigation level. To investigate the accumulative impact of metals present below their individual investigation levels, three successive phytotoxicity trials were conducted in a greenhouse using the triticale plant CrackerJack ( Triticosecale rimpaui ), a cereal crop, in a sandy acidic soil treated jointly with Cd, Cu, and Zn at various rates. Seed germination and seedling growth were monitored. The metal rates in the first two trials were either too toxic or nontoxic. In the third trial, it was found that the mixture of Cd, Cu, and Zn at rates of 2.5, 97.5, and 188 mg kg −1 , respectively, did not affect seed germination, but caused a slight reduction in plant growth. Although metal concentrations used were lower than the Australian Ecological Investigation Level (Urban) for Cd, Cu, and Zn, which are 3.0, 100, and 200 mg kg −1 , respectively, the reduction occurred due to synergy. It was concluded that, to enhance the usefulness of environmental investigation limits, the synergistic effects of multiple metals present at levels slightly below the established limits must be considered.

Keywords: metal toxicity; phytotoxicity; soil contamination; sandy soil; trace metal; cereal crop (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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