Fate of Transport
Fate of transport (Fate and transport) refers to where and in what form a substance ends up as it move through the environment or an organism. In terms of transport in the environment “fate of transport” means where in the environment the substance ends up during and after natural forces have moved the substance. In organisms, it refers to where in the organism, what part of the body, the substance ends up. Fate of transport also refers to the various physical, chemical, and biological changes that might occur to the substance during and after transport.
Bioaccumulation
Fate of transport is important to human health. It effects wether a substance remains in the body long term or not, as well as what part of the body and in what form. All of these factors can effect symptoms, severity, and treatment. A substance that goes to the liver will likly cause primarily liver damage, where as a substance that ends up in the brain is more likely to cause damage to the brain.
Human Health
Fate of transport is important to human health. It effects wether a substance remains in the body long term or not, as well as what part of the body and in what form. All of these factors can effect symptoms, severity, and treatment. A substance that goes to the liver will likely cause primarily liver damage, where as a substance that ends up in the brain is more likely to cause damage to the brain.
Phytoaccumulation
In phytoaccumulation fate of transport refers to what the concentrations of pollutants are in various parts of the plant. This looks different for different plants and different toxins, but so far they have been observed to gnereally follow certain trends.
In flowering/fruiting trees and plants, it is generally observed that the toxin accumulates in the following order:
- Roots.
- Trunk, branches, and stems.
- Leaves.
- Flower/Fruit.
- Seeds.
- Not all plants follow this trend however. In Bassica’s there is little distinction or boundary within the plant between root, stem and leaf. With the concentration of the toxin existing in a gradient inversely proportional to elevation, with the portions of the plants at the lowest elevation showing the highest concentrations of toxins, while the portions of the plant at the highest elevation showing the lowest concentration of toxins. Meaning the underground portions tend to have higher concentrations of toxins than above ground portions. Brassica’s do follow the trend of most plants in that they tend to have significantly lower concentrations in their seeds.
- These factors also effect wether it is safe to use certain portions of a plant after they have been used for a remediation project. Anytime a plant is used for a remediation project, it should be treated as hazardous waste until it has been tested and shown to be safe. Brassica’s generally aren’t worth testing or trying to consume after they have been used to accumulate high concentrations of metals, even upper regions of the plant are usually unsafe to consume after absorbing high concentrations toxic metals. However, seeds from brassicas that were used to accumulate metals might be safe to use even when grown in higher concentrations of the toxin.
- It has been shown that certain plant and toxin combinations don’t follow these trends. When Sunflowers are used to absorb Cadmium, the Cadmium often ends up in the Sunflowers seeds first and roots last, completely reversing the normal trend.