ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Variation of Heavy Metals Accumulation
by Malva in Amazonian Ecosystems
of Drylands and Floodplains
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1
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Rodrigo Otávio, 3000,
Manaus 69060-000, AM, Brasil
2
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Agrárias, Departamento de Biologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas
e da Saúde, Universidade Estadual da Paraíba, Campina Grande 58429-500, PB, Brasil
3
Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental, rod. AM 10, Km 29, s/n, CP 319, Manaus 69010-970, AM, Brasil
4
Instituto Federal do Amazonas, Av. da Onça-Pintada, S/N-Galo da Serra, Presidente Figueiredo 69735-000, AM, Brasil
5
Instituto de Ciências Exatas e Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, rua Nossa Senhora do Rosário,
3863, Itacoatiara 69103-128, AM, Brasil
Submission date: 2024-06-18
Final revision date: 2024-07-15
Acceptance date: 2024-11-16
Online publication date: 2024-12-31
Corresponding author
Maria Teresa Gomes Lopes
Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias, Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Av. Rodrigo Otávio, 3000,
Manaus 69060-000, AM, Brasil
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ABSTRACT
The rapid urbanization, industrialization of cities, agricultural activities, and utilitarian actions
of the environment have caused increased pollution on the planet, mainly caused by heavy metals.
The advancement of ecosystem contamination has been the subject of studies to prevent or reduce risks
to environmental health. The use of plants to remove heavy metals from soil has become a prominent
research area in phytoremediation. Considered an herbaceous plant, malva (Urena lobata L.) is widely
cultivated for its economic value in natural fibers and medicinal applications. The objective of this work
was to analyze the concentrations of inorganic components in soils and tissues (roots and leaves) of
U. lobata in two areas: an anthropized area and a floodplain area, using X-ray fluorescence by total
reflection. Eight samples of malva soil and tissues (leaves and roots) were collected in each area, totaling
48 samples. The graphical dispersion was performed by the Principal Component Analysis Method
(PCA). The soils of the anthropized area provided a predominance of elements such as Pb, Nb, and Yb,
and the floodplain area presented high concentrations of Al, Cr, Ni, Cu, and Hf. The results indicate
that malva is a promising species for use as a phytoremediator in areas with heavy metal-contaminated
soil. It is characterized as an accumulator of Ti, Ni, Br, and Y in its tissues (roots and leaves) and as a hyperaccumulator of Hf and Yb. It is suggested that the species be used for environmental
biomonitoring, mainly metals Ti, Yb, Hf, Ni, Br, and Y. This is the first report of this species
as a bioaccumulator of heavy metals.