After 60 days of exposure to Cr, B[a]P, or a combination of
B[a]P and Cr, no visible toxic symptoms were observed for Z.
mays in all treatments. Compared to control treatments, all
concentrations of individual or combined contaminants had
no significant effect on root and shoot biomass (p >
0.05). Although results were not statistically significant,
1 and 5 mg kg−1 of B[a]P slightly increased the shoot
dry weight of Z. mays by 4.6 and 14.4 %, respectively,
relative to control treatments while 10 mg kg−1 reduced
the shoot biomass by 38.6 %. Increasing concentration
of Cr in soil reduced the shoot dry weight of Z. mays.
Under conditions of 50 and 100 mg Cr kg−1 soil concentration,
the shoots dry weight decreased by 13 and 25 %, respectively,
relative to control treatments