Two Poaceae species, Agrostis capillaris and Festuca rubra, were selected for their potential as phytostabilizing plants in multicontaminated soils. These species are resistant to contamination and maintain high concentrations of contaminants at the root level. Nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) is an engineered nanomaterial with the ability to stabilize metal(loid)s in soils; its potential toxicological effects in the selected species were studied in a germination test using: (i) control variant without soil; (ii) soil contaminated with Pb and Zn; and (iii) contaminated soil amended with 1% nZVI, as well as in an hydroponic experiment with the addition of nZVI 0, 25, 50 and 100 mg L-1. nZVI had no negative effects on seed germination or seedling growth, but was associated with an increase in shoot growth and reduction of the elongation inhibition rate (root-dependent) of F. rubra seedlings. However, applications of nZVI in the hydroponic solution had no effects on F. rubra but A. capillaris developed longer roots and more biomass. Increasing nZVI concentrations in the growing solution increased Mg and Fe uptake and reduced the Fe translocation factor. Our results indicate that nZVI has few toxic effects on the studied species.

Department of Environmental Geosciences Faculty of Environmental Sciences Czech University of Life Sciences Prague Kamýcká 129 16500 Praha Suchdol Czech Republic

Department of Soil and Water Conservation and Organic Waste Management CEBAS CSIC Campus Universitario de Espinardo 30100 Murcia Spain

Escola Politécnica Superior Universitat de Girona Carrer de Maria Aurèlia Capmany i Farnés 61 17003 Girona Spain

Global Change Research Institute Czech Academy of Sciences Bělidla 986 4a 60300 Brno Czech Republic

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Nano Zero Valent Iron (nZVI) as an Amendment for Phytostabilization of Highly Multi-PTE Contaminated Soil