Evaluating the ability of Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. and Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch as biomonitors and bioremediators of potentially toxic elements in the roadside environment

Monitoring and remediation of metal pollutants related to traffic is a suitable way to manage and create a safe ecosystem for living beings. Therefore, the present study was conducted to assess the ability of cardaria draba L. Desva and Achillea wilhelmsii C. Koch as biomonitors and bioremediators of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd and Cu) in the roadside environment in 2020. In so doing, a total of 63 surface soil samples and 126 plant samples were collected along 700 m from a 9 km section of Goltepeh, Saveh and Kermanshah roads. After acidic digestion of soil and plant samples in the laboratory; the contents of As, Cd and Cu were determined using ICP-OES. Atmospheric capture rate index (CR), bioconcentration factor (BCF), bioaccumulation factor (BAF), transfer factor (TF), comprehensive bio-concentration index (CBCI) and comprehensive and bioaccumulation index (CBAI) were calculated. Also, the SPSS statistics software (IBM) was used to analyze the obtained data. The results showed that the highest mean values of CR for As and Cd in A. wilhelmsii were 34.0% and 14.8%, respectively; and the highest mean value of CR for Cu in C. draba was 30.9%. On the other hand, C. draba had average BAF and TF values greater than 1 for all elements. A. wilhelmsii had mean BCF values greater than 1 and TF values less than 1 for As and Cd, and mean BAF and TF values greater than 1 for Cu. The average values of the CBCI and CBAI indices in C. draba were 0.501 and 0.527, respectively, and in A. wilhelmsii were 0.441 and 0.536, respectively. Based on the average values of CR, BCF, BAF, TF, CBCI, and CBAI of elements it should be argued that C. draba and A. wilhelmsii could be used as an efficient native species for monitoring and remediation of heavy metals from air and soil in contaminated areas.