Evaluation of Heavy Metal Accumulation and Biomonitoring Properties in Some Brassicaceae Species in Amasya Province of Turkey

In this study, heavy metals (Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd) contents of five Brassicaceae species grown in four different locations in Turkey were determined, mapped, and interpreted. Spatial analyses of the collected data were conducted in GIS, and thematic maps for average heavy metal accumulations including root, stem, and leaf of each species was developed. The biomonitoring potentials of species was assessed based on the statistical analyses results of the different localities. The heavy metal deposition characteristics of the plants showed differences. The most accumulated heavy metal was Zn, while Cd was the least accumulated. Capsella bursa-pastoris had the highest Cr and Cu accumulation compared to other species. Lepidium draba, on the other hand, accumulated Pb and Zn at most. Sisymbrium loeselii had the highest Cd accumulation compared to the other species. The results of the present study have indicated that Lepidium draba (Zn and Pb), Capsella bursa-pastoris (Cr and Cu) and Sisymbrium loeselii (Cd) can be safely used for biomonitoring studies.