PAHs accumulation in soil-plant system in Atamanskoe lake bottom sediments in the long-term chemical contamination effect

The concentrations of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soils, under- and above-ground tissues of reed (Phragmites australis) on monitoring plots in the zone of industrial sewage tanks and sludge reservoirs in the city of Kamensk-Shakhtinskyi (southern Russia, Rostov Region), were determined. The total PAHs concentration in soil of monitoring site D3 (4229.4 ± 5.7µg kg^-1) was significantly higher than those in monitoring sites: D4 (3873.7 ± 17.1 µg kg^-1), TR1 (2217.3 ± 9.1µg kg^-1), 43 (2001.1 ± 13.0µg kg^-1), and also D0 (140.4 ± 1.0µg kg^-1) plots. Accordingly, the maximum accumulation was found for phenanthrene among the 16 priority PAHs in the most of the soil and plants samples. It was determined the PAHs pollution effect in the studied monitoring sites on cellular and sub-cellular organelles changes of P. australis. The data received shows that increasing of PAHs contamination negatively affected on the cellular and sub-cellular organelles changes of the studied pants. Using of electron-microscopic method for plants sub-cellular structure showed ultrastructural changes in the cell membranes, and the main cytoplasmic organelles of plant cells. It was established the P. australis had a high level of adaptation to the effect of stressors by using of tissue and cell levels. In general, the detected sub-cellular alterations under the PAHs effect were possibly connected to changes in biochemical and histochemical parameters as a response for reactive oxygen species and also as a protective response against oxidative stress. The results received carry in innovative findings for cellular and sub-cellular changes in plants exposed to 16 priority PAHs as very persistent and toxic contaminants.

The research was financially supported by the Russian Science Foundation project no. 19-74-10046.