Many pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are present in reclaimed water, leading to concerns of human health risks from the consumption of food crops irrigated with reclaimed water. This study evaluated the potential for plant uptake and accumulation of four commonly occurring PPCP/EDCs, i.e., bisphenol A (BPA), diclofenac sodium (DCL), naproxen (NPX), and 4-nonylphenol (NP), by lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and collards (Brassica oleracea) in hydroponic culture, using 14C-labeled compounds. In both plant species, plant accumulation followed the order of BPA > NP > DCL > NPX and accumulation in roots was much greater than in leaves and stems. Concentrations of 14C-PPCP/EDCs in plant tissues ranged from 0.22 ± 0.03 to 927 ± 213 ng/g, but nearly all 14C-residue was non-extractable. PPCP/EDCs, particularly BPA and NP, were also extensively transformed in the nutrient solution. Dietary uptake of these PPCP/EDCs by humans was predicted to be negligible.

White cabbage, Brassica oleracea, plants and artificial leaves covered with B. oleracea epicuticular wax were exposed to α-pinene and α-pinene oxidation products formed through the oxidation of α-pinene by ozone (O₃) and hydroxyl (OH) radicals. O₃ and OH-induced oxidation of α-pinene led to the formation of oxygenated volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) and secondary organic aerosol particles (SOA), referred to together as oxidation products (OP). Exposure of cabbage plants to O₃ and OH-induced α-pinene OP led to the deposition and re-emission of gas-phase OP by exposed cabbage plants. In a series of 2-choice bioassays, the specialist cruciferous herbivore, Plutella xylostella adults deposited less eggs on artificial leaves exposed to α-pinene OP than on control plants exposed to clean filtered air. P. xylostella larvae did not show a specific feeding preference when offered leaves from different exposure treatments. However, the generalist Indian stick insect, Carausius morosus, fed more on control filtered air-exposed plants than on those exposed to α-pinene OP. Taken together, our results show that exposure to α-pinene oxidation products affects VOC emissions of B. oleracea and alters P. xylostella oviposition and C. morosus feeding responses.

Interest in selenium pollution and remediation technology has escalated during the past two decades. Although not known to be essential for plants, selenium is essential but could be toxic for humans and animals, depending on its concentration. A major selenium controversy in the 1980's emerged in California when the general public and scientific community became aware of selenium's potential as an environmental contaminant. After extensive research on several strategies to reduce loads of mobile Se for entering the agricultural ecosystem a plant-based technology, defined as 'phytoremediation' received increasing recognition, as a low-cost environmentally friendly approach for managing soluble Se in the soil and water environment. Successful long-term field remediation of Se by plants is, however, dependent upon acceptance and widespread use by growers, who are also concerned about potential commercial value from using the plant-based technology. Obtaining products with economic value from plants used in the cleanup of soil would certainly be an additional benefit to phytoremediation, which could help sustain its long-term use.

The perennial evergreen woody shrub, Rhododendron tomentosum, confers associational resistance against herbivory and oviposition on neighbouring plants through passive adsorption of some of its constitutively emitted volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The adsorption process is dependent on transport of VOCs in the air. In polluted atmospheres, the VOCs may be degraded and adsorption impeded. We studied the effect of elevated ozone regimes on the adsorption of R. tomentosum volatiles to white cabbage, Brassica oleracea, and the oviposition of the specialist herbivore Plutella xylostella on the exposed plants. We found evidence for adsorption and re-emission of R. tomentosum volatiles by B. oleracea plants. Ozone changed the blend of R. tomentosum volatiles and reduced the amount of R. tomentosum volatiles recovered from B. oleracea plants. However, plants exposed to R. tomentosum volatiles received fewer P. xylostella eggs than control plants exposed to filtered air irrespective of whether R. tomentosum volatiles mixed with ozone. Ozone disrupts a volatile mediated passive plant-to-plant interaction by degrading some compounds and reducing the quantity available for adsorption by neighbouring plants. The change, however, did not affect the deterrence of oviposition by P. xylostella, suggesting that aromatic companion plants of Brassica crops may confer pest-deterring properties even in ozone-polluted environments.

Two greenhouse pot experiments were conducted in Agrinion, Greece, using a randomized block design in four replications, respectively, as follows: The first one included five levels of treated municipal wastewater (TMWW), being used as an irrigation water source. The second one, five levels of applied Cl at a constant soil applied Cd level of 10.36 mg/kg soil, the plants being irrigated with fresh well water. The purpose of these experiments was to study the impact of the Cl × Cd interrelationship on planning TMWW reuse, for the irrigation of Brassica oleracea var. Capitata (cabbage) cv F1 Gloria, ehich was used as test plant, in both of these experiments. It was found that the TMWW Cl content, originating mainly from the procedure of wastewater chlorination, was synergistically interrelated with the toxic heavy metal Cd, increasing its soil availability and cabbage plant leaf uptake (edible plant part). As this increase is directly associated with the consumer's health, it was suggested that the TMWW be subjected to dechlorination process or the disinfection be made by ozonation or UV, which do not include Cl.

Concentrations of chromium, copper, and lead were determined in soil and plant specimens collected from the area of coal power plant (CPP), A. Dimitrios, the largest CPP in Greece located on the eastern part of Ptolemais basin, Macedonia. Two cultivated plants (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. and Zea mays L.) and two non-cultivated plants (Rumex acetosa L. and Verbascum phlomoides L.) were chosen. The mean heavy metal content in the soil is described in the descending order of Cr>Pb>Cu, while for the plant material, the order was Cr>Cu>Pb. Stations in the vicinity of the CPP showed a distinctly high load of Cr in the soil, whereas for the other metals, no such correlation has been noted. Unexpectedly, high levels of chromium and copper have been found in plant samples of the control station (Grevena) where there is no significant point source of air pollution by particulate matter. In general, roots revealed a higher metal concentration than that of the other plant organs. This is more obvious in B. oleracea var. capitata for all metals studied. Thus, B. oleracea var. capitata possesses the potential for phytoremediation of soils contaminated by metals since this plant is removable together with its roots from the contaminated soil. The most contaminated leaves showed a variation in surface roughness. In V. phlomoides the non-glandular, branched candelabrum-like trichomes on the leaf epidermis effectively trapped and retained a considerable number of particles. In contrast, the waxy cuticle of R. acetosa, which forms a smooth sheet over the epidermal cells, enabled the fast removal of particles by rain or wind. In the case of Z. mays, seeds accumulated the lowest amount of all metals.

The present work describes the synthesis of α-MnO₂ nanorods using a natural extract of Brassica oleracea (cabbage) and the formulation of its nanohybrids with polycarbazole, i.e., α-MnO₂/PCz. Synergistic interaction between PCz and MnO₂ is revealed from infrared spectroscopy (IR) studies while the composition is determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The formation of α-MnO₂ nanorods is confirmed via high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The indirect bandgap of α-MnO₂ is reported as 2.5 eV while for the nanohybrids it is found to be ranging between 2.3 and 2.5 eV. Results show that 91% and 89% of degradation is achieved within 30 min and 90 min under the microwave and UV irradiation respectively. Hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and superoxide (•O₂⁻) radicals are responsible for photocatalytic degradation of the drug Bactrim DS which is confirmed by radical scavenging experiments. The nanohybrids show promising catalytic activity under UV as well as microwave irradiation.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of adding different rates of diethylenetriamine pentaacetate (DTPA) at different concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, and 5 mmol kg−1) and ethylenediamine disuccinate (EDDS) at 0, 5, 7.5, and 10 mmol kg−1 on the capacity of Brussels sprouts plants to take up Se from soils contaminated with 0, 5, 10, and 15 mg kg−1 NaSeO4, under a greenhouse conditions. Results indicated that the application of DTPA and EDDS to Se-contaminated soils significantly affect plant Se concentration, Se uptake, and dry matter yield of plants. Se concentration in the plant leaves, stems, and roots increased with increase in DTPA and EDDS application doses, but total Se uptake increased from 0 to 1.0 and 7.5 mmol kg−1 DTPA and EDDS application doses, respectively, and decreased after those levels due to toxic Se concentration for plant. Most plant available fractions and the carbonate, metal oxide, and organic matter-bound fractions increased linearly with Se application. At all DTPA and EDDS application rates, the Se concentrations in the leaves were about two to three times higher than those in the roots and about three to four times higher than those in the stems. This study suggests that the above-ground organs like leaf and shoots of Brussels sprouts can effectively be used in the removal of Se from soils contaminated with Se. Under the conditions in this experiment, Brussels sprouts were capable of removing 0.9–1.8 mg Se pot−1 when harvested at maturity without any chelating agent take into consideration one growing season per year. Based on the data of present experiment, it would be necessary to approximately 57–67 growing seasons without EDDS and EDTA to remove all total Se from polluted soil. Selenium removal can be further increased 12- to 20-fold with 7.5 mmol kg−1 EDDS and 1.0 mmol kg−1 DTPA application, respectively.

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted in Agrinion, Greece, in 2009, using a Randomized Block Design. Treated Municipal Wastewater (TMWW) in five levels was applied to Brassica oleracea var. Capitata (cabbage) in four replications. The experiment aimed at investigating the effect of TMWW on: (a) the interrelationships of cabbage plant parts (roots, stems, leaves, and heads) heavy metal content, with the respective dry matter yield. (b) The relationship between each individual soil bioavailable diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA extractable) heavy metal, with the dry matter (dm) yield of the abovementioned cabbage plant parts. The heavy metals of cabbage plant parts dry matter were significantly related negatively and statistically with the respective dry matter yield. Similarly, the soil available DTPA-extractable heavy metals were generally negatively affecting the dry matter yield of roots, stems, leaves, and heads. Conversely, Co, Cr, and Cd were found to be positively associated with the dry matter yield increase of the aforementioned plant parts. This effect was indirect, probably being due to contribution in essential elements by the synergistic interactions of these heavy metals with plant nutrients, such as Ca, Mg, Fe, and Mn.