Speciation Analysis of Mercury in Terrestrial Plants

Abstract

Radish (Raphanus sativus), common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), pea (Pisum sativum), and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) were cultivated both in contaminated (2000 μg Hg kg^–1) and non-contaminated (100–150 μg Hg kg^–1) soil. Plants were grown in pots located both in the greenhouse and in the open air. The content of mercury in the roots of plants grown in the contaminated soil was increased 2–3 times regardless of the location of plants. The content of mercury in the leaves was increased (1.5–2 times) only in plants grown in open air, which may be associated with the intake of mercury from the atmosphere. The increase of the mercury content in seeds of all plants was almost negligible. The most of mercury was present as inorganic Hg(II). Abundance of methylmercury reached max. 2 % of the total mercury content and did not exceed 2 ng g^–1.