Evaluation of heavy metals binary metals mixtures toxicity on spring barley Hordeum vulgare

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution is considered as one of the most serious problems worldwide and has significant environmental and human health impact. Cadmium and lead contamination is widespread due to their intensive use. Heavy metals are always found in the environment in the mixtures rather than as single elements. Within the last several decades scientific and regulatory concern over the ecological effects and risks assessment of chemical mixtures has increased as mixtures of chemicals usually elicit different toxicity to living organisms. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of lead (Pb) and interactive effect of the binary mixture of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) to the growth of spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The seedlings of barley were treated with single Pb (ranging from 0.1 to 100 mg/L) and Pb mixture with Cd. Single and combined metal treatment impaired the growth of spring barley, altered the content of photosynthetic pigments and induced lipid peroxidation.