Effects of dissolved organic matter on toxicity and bioavailability of copper for lettuce sprouts

It is well known that dissolved organic matter in soil solution may affect the toxicity or bioavailability of heavy metals to plants, but existing information on various organic substances is insufficient for treating problems with heavy metal-contaminated soils. To clarify how dissolved organic matter alters the toxicity and bioavailability of metals, we germinated lettuce seeds exposed to solutions containing Cu and several kinds of dissolved organic matters. Low molecular weight organic acids (citric, malic, and oxalic acids) increased the toxicity and bioavailability of Cu, but low concentrations of the synthetic chelators ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and diethylenetriamine penta-acetic acid (DTPA) decreased the toxicity and bioavailability of Cu. In contrast, humic acid appeared to be the most effective organic substance for detoxifying Cu, even though it did not significantly decrease the bioavailability of Cu. Consequently, the bioavailability and toxic effects of Cu in soil depend on the nature of coexisting organic substances in the soil solution.