Xanthium italicum-Heavy Metal Accumulator?

In order to estimate environmental contamination, the content of nine heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) in Xanthium italicum and corresponding soil samples from Serbia was determined. This study is the first to examine the heavy metal content in X. italicum tissues (root, stem, and ripe fruit) in relation to soil contamination, highlighting its potential as both an environmental pollution indicator and a phytoremediation tool. The samples were taken from the tailing pond Gornje Polje of the lead and zinc mine Trepča and from the locations near the mountain village Temska and Prosek, far away from the mine. It was found that soil samples from the mine tailing pond Gornje Polje and all X. italicum tissue samples from the same location contain a significant excess of a large number of elements. Soil samples from Gornje Polje contained extremely high concentrations of heavy metals, including Zn (5815  ±  54 µg/g), Pb (1878  ±  17 µg/g), and Cd (17  ±  2 µg/g), exceeding legal limits by up to 40 times, with corresponding elevated metal uptake in X. italicum plant tissues, highlighting its potential for phytoremediation. These results suggest that X. italicum could be possibly used as an indicator of environmental pollution and heavy metal accumulator.