The investigation of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) accumulation and the investigation of some phsylogicial and biochemical parameters depending upon this accumulation in plant samples collected from some agricultural areas irrigated with industrial wastewater around Gaziantep province

In this study, the amount of lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) accumulation in different parts (root, stem and leaves) of tomato (Lycopersicum esculentum L.), green pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), eggplant (Solanum melongena) and maize (Zea mays L.) collected from Karahöyük (1st station) and Salkım (2nd station) villages, irrigated with wastewater and also the amount of Pb and Cd concentrations in water and sediments were measured and compared with Bostancık village, selected as a control station, irrigated with clean water. In result of two years repeated investigations; the amount of Pb and Cd concentration increased significantly (P<0,05 ) in all plant samples, soil, sediments and water compared to the control region. The results of the measurements from both stations have shown that the root of the maize accumulates the heavy metals much more than the other plants in both stations. Also, it has been determined that the change in the amount of chlorophyl a, chlorophyl b, total chlorophyll and caroteneoids, protein and total carbonhydrate in plant leaves showed statistically significant decrease (P<0,05), but lipid peroxidation, prolin and non protein -SH groups showed statistically significant increase (P<0,05).Keywords: Wastewater, Gaziantep, lead, cadmium, physiological and biochemical changes.