Taraxacum officinale as a Bioindicator for Assessing Anthropogenic Pollution

The publication evaluates the influence of road traffic intensity on heavy metal accumulation in different organs of Taraxacum officinale within the urban ecosystem of Uzhhorod and assesses the species' suitability as a bioindicator of anthropogenic pollution. Plant samples were collected across six urban locations with varying traffic loads, including a control site in the Botanical Garden, to determine concentrations of Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Lead (Pb), and Manganese (Mn) using electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry. The study establishes a clear positive relationship between traffic intensity and toxic element accumulation in roadside vegetation, reflecting the ecological impact of rapid urbanization and vehicular emissions.

Quantitative analysis reveals that the highest concentrations of Zn (48.1 ± 4.6 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight) and Cu (19.8 ± 1.7 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight) occur in the leaves of plants growing along high-traffic thoroughfares, exceeding control values by approximately 3.0 and 2.2 times, respectively. Conversely, maximum concentrations of Pb (12.9 ± 1.2 mg kg⁻¹) and Mn (1.93 ± 0.17 mg kg⁻¹) are retained in the root system at the most heavily polluted site, while plants from moderately trafficked streets exhibit intermediate levels and control specimens show minimal accumulation. These patterns demonstrate distinct organ-specific mechanisms of heavy metal uptake, transport, and sequestration under anthropogenic pressure, validating Taraxacum officinale as a highly sensitive and effective bioindicator for urban environmental biomonitoring programs.