REDUCED HEALTH RISKS BY METAL ACCUMULATING DESERT PLANTS

在德克萨斯州埃尔帕索地区和其他受污染地区，铅和铜等重金属污染的土壤对公众构成了潜在的健康风险。为了减少重金属对公众健康造成的有害影响，对已经受到污染的地区进行治理是非常重要的。需要新的和创新的土壤修复技术。一些植物吸收高浓度重金属的能力是有益的。这种技术被称为植物修复。植物修复是一种可行的、经济有效的土壤修复方法。然而，大多数被确定为潜在植物修复剂的植物只生长在更肥沃的地区，不能在沙漠环境中生存。我们的假设是，沙漠计划可能有能力减少干旱气候下土壤中的重污染物，从而减少它们对社区构成的健康威胁。我们的具体目标是：1)。荒漠平原控温温室水培育苗。我们计划研究的沙漠植物包括三叉戟Larrea (creosotebush)，豆科植物Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite), Salsola kali (tumble wee), Coevalina spinosa（十字花科植物）和Solanum elaegnofolium（紫色龙葵）。2）. 在温度可控的温室中，在污染土壤中种植沙漠植物。3）. 在温度可控的温室中，在污染土壤中种植沙漠植物。3）. 为了研究沙漠植物对金属的吸收机制，我们将使用光谱学、电子显微镜和化学修饰技术，以及鉴定可能的金属结合蛋白。3）. 探讨荒漠植物对金属的吸收机制。为此，我们将使用光谱学、电子显微镜和化学修饰技术。以及鉴定可能的金属结合蛋白。4)。探讨在实际土壤污染场地种植最佳重金属富集植物的可行性。本研究的长期目标是了解沙漠植物如何从污染土壤中吸收有毒重金属的机制。这些研究将有助于选择最好的积累金属的沙漠植物用于土壤修复，从而减少对公众健康的威胁。来自这些受污染土壤的重金属目前正通过空气传播到社区和人们，特别是儿童和孕妇，他们对这些有毒元素非常敏感。因此，拟议的研究与生物医学研究直接相关，因为它与公共卫生有关。

Soil contamination with heavy metals such as lead and cooper in the El Paso, Texas area and other contaminated areas represent a potential health risk to the general public. To reduce the detrimental public health effects caused by heavy metals, it is very important to remediate those areas that are already contaminated. New and innovative soil remediation techniques are necessary. The capability of some plants to uptake high levels of heavy metals is of benefit. This technique is known as phytoremediation. Phytoremediation has the potential of being a feasible and cost-effective process of remediation of contaminated soils. However, most of the plants identified as potential phytoremediators only grow in more fertile areas and cannot survive in the desert environment. Our hypothesis is that desert plans may have the ability to reduce soil heavy contaminants in arid climates and thereby reduce the health threat they pose to the community. Our specific aims are: 1). To cultivate seedlings of desert plains hydroponically in temperature controlled greenhouses. The desert plants we plan to study include Larrea tridentate (creosotebush), Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite), Salsola kali (tumble wee), Coevalina spinosa (crucifix), and Solanum elaegnofolium (purple nightshade). 2). To grow the desert plants in contaminated soils within temperature controlled greenhouses. 3). To grow the desert plants in contaminated soils within temperature controlled greenhouses. 3). To investigate the mechanisms of metal uptake by the desert plants for this we will use spectroscopic, electron microscopy, and chemical modification techniques, as well as identification of the possible metal binding proteins. 3). To investigate the mechanisms of metal uptake by the desert plants. For this we will use spectroscopic, electron microscopy, and chemical modification techniques. as well as identification of the possible metal binding proteins. 4). To examine the feasibility of growing the best metal accumulating desert plants in actual soil contaminated sites. The long term goal of this research is to understand the mechanisms of how desert plants uptake toxic heavy metals from contaminated soils. These studies will help to select the best metal-accumulating desert plants to use for soil remediation and thereby reduce the health threat to the general public. The heavy metals from these contaminated soils are currently being transported through the air to the community and to people, especially children and pregnant women who are very susceptible to these toxic elements. Consequently, the proposed research as a directly relevance upon biomedical research since it is related to public health.