Trace element accumulation in plants from an aridic area affected by mining activities

Trace element contamination has been a serious problem in the vicinity of abandoned mine sites. In the studied area, mining activities have produced great amounts of wastes, characterized by high trace elements content, acidic pH and minerals from supergene alteration. Trace elements have been dispe...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Martínez Sánchez, Maria José, García Lorenzo, María de la Luz, Pérez Sirvent, Carmen, Bech, Jaume
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2012
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/42984
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/42984
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Trace elements
Accumulator
Phytoremediation Translocation factor Soil contamination
Edafología (Geología)
2511 Ciencias del Suelo (Edafología)
Descripción
Sumario:Trace element contamination has been a serious problem in the vicinity of abandoned mine sites. In the studied area, mining activities have produced great amounts of wastes, characterized by high trace elements content, acidic pH and minerals from supergene alteration. Trace elements have been dispersed, both downstream and downslope from the mine mainly due, mainly, to surface run-off. Trace elements hydric mobilization usually takes place during the rainy season, an important pollution route in the studied area. A wide range of techniques have been proposed to remediate soils polluted by trace elements. Among them, phytoremediation-based technologies could provide a long-lasting solution. The aimof thisworkwas to determine trace element concentration in roots and leaves of five plant species (Limonium carthaginens, Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, Dittrichia viscosa, Glaucium flavum and Zygophyllum fabago) growing in soils polluted by mining activities in order to determine which part of the plants accumulate heavymetals to the greatest extent. Themetal concentrations in plants varied with plant species. Plant accumulation results showed that Z. fabago could act as an accumulator for Fe, and A. macrostachyum could accumulate in Fe, As and Mn. The other plant species collected from the mining sites were tolerant to trace element contamination.