Study of some plant species as phytoremediation of heavy metals emission from oil refinery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36103/h2a7f458Keywords:
Air pollution, Environmental Contamination, Heavy Metals, Photosynthetic Pigments, Phytoremediation, جودة الهواءAbstract
This study was carried out to investigate the phytoremediation potential of six different plant species (Melia azedaracch ,Punica granatum,Cupressus arizonica, Platanus orientalis and Platanus orientalis) in the city of Erbil mitigating heavy metal emissions of an oil refinery. The research assesses photosynthetic pigments, heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn, As, Pb, Co, Hg and Se) from an oil, and biochemical attributes in leaves, highlighting their responsiveness to contamination. Variations in metal levels between control and polluted sites underscore the refinery's impact, while reduced photosynthetic pigments indicate potential ramifications for plant vigor. The intricate interplay between pollution levels and plant physiology is explored, offering crucial insights for effective environmental management strategies. Metals like Arsenic, Cadmium, Lead, and Mercury, commonly found in food, pose health risks due to human activities. The research underscores the significance of plants as indicators and reducers of pollutants, emphasizing the potential of phytoremediation in addressing environmental challenges. The findings contribute valuable information for developing sustainable approaches to combat pollution, particularly in industrial settings
Received: 23/4/2025
Accepted: 2/7/2025
Published: 2026/2/28
References
AL-Heety, L. F., Hasan, O. M., & Al-Heety, E. A. M. S. (2021). Heavy metal pollution and ecological risk assessment in soils adjacent to electrical generators in Ramadi city, Iraq. Iraqi Journal of Science, 1077-1087. doi:https://doi.org/10.24996/ijs.2021.62.4.4
Alharthy, S. A., Uguru, H., Akwenuke, M. O., Essaghah, A. E., Akpomedaye, O., Sami, R., . . . Hamdi10, H. (2025). A Study of Microbiological Contamination and Metal Toxicity from Artisanal Crude Oil Refining on Ecosystem Health. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies. doi:https://doi.org/10.15244/pjoes/195777
Almashhadany, D. A., Rashid, R. F., Altaif, K. I., Mohammed, S. H., Mohammed, H. I., & Al-Bader, S. M. (2024). Heavy metal (loid) bioaccumulation in fish and its implications for human health. Italian Journal of Food Safety, 14(1), 12782.
Angon, P. B., Islam, M. S., Das, A., Anjum, N., Poudel, A., & Suchi, S. A. (2024). Sources, effects and present perspectives of heavy metals contamination: Soil, plants and human food chain. Heliyon, 10(7).
Asiminicesei, D.-M., Fertu, D. I., & Gavrilescu, M. (2024). Impact of heavy metal pollution in the environment on the metabolic profile of medicinal plants and their therapeutic potential. Plants, 13(6), 913. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13060913
Aslam, H., Umar, A., Khan, M. U., Honey, S., Ullah, A., Ashraf, M. A., . . . Khan, S. (2024). A Review on Heavy Metals in Ecosystems, Their Sources, Roles, and Impact on Plant Life. Journal of Genetic Medicine and Gene Therapy, 7(1), 020-034. doi:https://doi.org/10.29328/journal.jgmgt.1001012
Budovich, L. S. (2021). Effects of heavy metals in soil and plants on ecosystems and the economy. Caspian Journal of Environmental Sciences, 19(5), 991-997. doi:https://doi.org/10.22124/cjes.2021.5331
Gao, T., Wang, H., Li, C., Zuo, M., Wang, X., Liu, Y., . . . Fang, X. (2022). Effects of heavy metal stress on physiology, hydraulics, and anatomy of three desert plants in the Jinchang mining area, China. International journal of environmental research and public health, 19(23), 15873. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315873
Govindaraju, M., Ganeshkumar, R., Suganthi, P., Muthukumaran, V., & Visvanathan, P. (2010). Impact assessment of air pollution stress on plant species through biochemical estimations. Int. J. Environ. Ecol. Eng, 4, 696-699.
Imadi, S. R., Shah, S. W., Kazi, A. G., Azooz, M., & Ahmad, P. (2016). Phytoremediation of saline soils for sustainable agricultural productivity. Plant metal interaction, 455-468. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-803158-2.00018-7
Jones, J. (2018). Soil analysis handbook of reference methods: CRC press.
Jorjani, S., & Karakaş, F. P. (2024). Physiological and biochemical responses to heavy metals stress in plants. International Journal of Secondary Metabolite, 11(1), 169-190. doi:https://doi.org/10.21448/ijsm.1323494
Kamal, S. W. J., & Xavier, J. (2023). Effect of heavy metals on the pigmentation and photosynthetic capability in Jacobaea maritima (L.) Pelser & Meijden. doi:https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2490
Kamal, W. (2017). Protein Enrichment in Agro-Industrial Residues by Trametes Versicolor Using Solid State Fermentation. (MSc), Cyprus International univesity,
Kareem, K. K. H., & Abdulla, S. S. (2023). Determination of heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons in soil samples and plant leaves around oil refineries located on erbil-gwer road. Science Journal of University of Zakho, 11(4), 492-498. doi: https://doi.org/10.25271/sjuoz.2023.11.4.1169
Kazi, E., Shaikh, Y. I., Tikle, S., Beig, G., Shaikh, V. S., Kulkarni, S., & Dhulap, V. P. (2021). Effect of Air Pollutants on Urban Roadside Trees in Shivajinagar & Pashan Area, Pune City. ES Food & Agroforestry, 5, 29-37. doi:10.30919/esfaf508
Manisalidis, I., Stavropoulou, E., Stavropoulos, A., & Bezirtzoglou, E. (2020). Environmental and health impacts of air pollution: a review. Frontiers in public health, 8, 14. doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2020.00014
Metzzener, H., Rava, H., & Sender, H. (1965). Unter suchungen zur synchronis iebekiety pigments mangel von chlrella. Planta, 65, 186-190.
Panda, S. (2003). Heavy-metal phytotoxicity induces oxidative stress in a moss, Taxithellium sp. Current Science, 84(5), 631-633.
Salih, Z., & Aziz, F. (2019). Heavy Metals Accumulation in Leaves of Five Plant Species as a Bioindicator of Steel Factory Pollution and their Effects on Pigment Content. Polish Journal of Environmental Studies, 28(6). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-025-14211-2
Salih, Z. R., Khudhur, N. S., & Muhammad, M. Q. (2025). Bioaccumulation of different heavy metals and toxicity assessment using different indices in grape plants and soil around power generators in Erbil province. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 197(7), 1-17. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-025-14211-2
Sumiahadi, A., & Acar, R. (2018). A review of phytoremediation technology: heavy metals uptake by plants. Paper presented at the IOP conference series: earth and environmental science.
Thambavani, D., & Kumar, R. (2011). Induced changes of photosynthetic pigments in selected plant species due to cement dust pollution.
Usman, K., Al-Ghouti, M. A., & Abu-Dieyeh, M. H. (2019). The assessment of cadmium, chromium, copper, and nickel tolerance and bioaccumulation by shrub plant Tetraena qataranse. Scientific reports, 9(1), 5658. doi:doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42029-9
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Zhian Rashid Salih, Maqsuda Qadir Muhammad , Wareen Farzand Kamal , Runj Mouhamednajat Mazher

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

2.jpg)
