Road salt induced mobilization and accumulation of heavy metals in roadside bioretention in the field: the roles of season, plant uptake, media, and catchment properties

Abstract

Bioretention systems can effectively remove heavy metals from urban stormwater runoff. However, seasonal dynamics of metal accumulation and the role of road salt in metal mobilization from bioretention media under field conditions remain poorly understood. Moreover, limited research has examined metal accumulation in plants in bioretention systems in field. This study investigated seasonal variation in metal (Cadmium, Chromium, Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc) and major cation (Sodium, Magnesium, Calcium, and Potassium) contents and metal accumulation in leaf tissue of 14 plant species across 19 field-scale bioretention sites in Toronto, Canada. Media and catchment characteristics influencing..