Assessment of Lead and Cadmium Pollution in Soil and Wild Plants at Different Functional Areas of Sialkot.

Heavy metal pollution is a great hazard to the environment that enters the ecosystem through different natural and anthropogenic sources. A study was performed to evaluate concentrations of Cd and Pb in selected plants, Ricinus communis and Parthenium hysterophorus, and soils from different functional sites in Sialkot. Maximum fresh and dry weights of R. communis were recorded from control and field sites. Highest concentrations of Cd in P. hysterophorus (33.5 mg kg⁻¹) and R. communis (24.36 ± 2.83 mg kg⁻¹) were recorded at residential and industrial sites, respectively. However, road site samples showed maximum concentrations of Pb both in R. communis (9.06 ± 0.35 mg kg⁻¹) and P. hysterophorus (7.90 ± 0.36 mg kg⁻¹). Soil from the road site were found to be highly acidic (pH 4.75 ± 0.04), while the field site showed highest EC (494 ± 3.60) and TDS (509 ± 3.00) values. Generally, there were reductions in chlorophyll a and carotenoids, but an increase in chlorophyll b was observed in both plants at all sites compared to the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]