Accumulation of phenanthrene by roots of intact wheat (Triticum acstivnm L.) seedlings: passive or active uptake?

Background: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of particular concern due to their hydrophobic, recalcitrant, persistent, potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic properties, and their ubiquitous occurrence in the environment. Most of the PAHs in the environment are present in surface soil. Plants grown in PAH-contaminated soils or water can become contaminated with PAHs because of their uptake.

[Enzymatic activities of phenanthrene contaminated soil in wheat and clover intercropping system].

The dynamic changes of soil enzymatic activities during remediation of phenanthrene contaminated soil with clover or clover and wheat were investigated with pot experiments. Clover and wheat increased the activities of soil sucrase, polyphenol oxidase, urease and phosphatase with an increase rate in the range of 14.72%-46.