Entry and Movement in Vegetation of Lead Derived From Air and Soil Sources

Abstract

The body of information presented in this paper is directed to individuals concerned with the state of our knowledge on lead uptake and translocation by plants and its subsequent effects. Lead, a non-essential element, is taken up by many plant species primarily via their roots. Large amounts of lead are deposited on plant foliage and most remains as a topical deposit but foliar uptake has been demonstrated. To date it has been assumed that soil lead levels above 1000 ppm are required to cause observable plant effects. Environmental variables, plant age, and species are very important determinants of lead uptake. The few studies done with plant age and speciation, however, provide no clear generalization. Increasing soil lead availability increases plant uptake. Plant uptake decreases with increasing soil phosphorus, organic content, and pH. The lack of observable lead intoxication of native and agricultural plants is surprising in light of evidence that lead concentrations as low as 1 ppm have a profound effect on events associated with photosynthesis and respiration, this has been explained because even though large amounts of lead may be taken up by plant roots they are immobilized by dictyosome vesicles and deposited in the cell wall. It has been suggested that a similar process is operative throughout the plant. The extant data provide no basis for any fear that lead is an imminent dietary hazard to man.