Concentrations of chromium, copper, and lead were determined in soil and plant specimens collected from the area of coal power plant (CPP), A. Dimitrios, the largest CPP in Greece located on the eastern part of Ptolemais basin, Macedonia. Two cultivated plants (Brassica oleracea var. capitata L. and Zea mays L.) and two non-cultivated plants (Rumex acetosa L. and Verbascum phlomoides L.) were chosen. The mean heavy metal content in the soil is described in the descending order of Cr>Pb>Cu, while for the plant material, the order was Cr>Cu>Pb. Stations in the vicinity of the CPP showed a distinctly high load of Cr in the soil, whereas for the other metals, no such correlation has been noted. Unexpectedly, high levels of chromium and copper have been found in plant samples of the control station (Grevena) where there is no significant point source of air pollution by particulate matter. In general, roots revealed a higher metal concentration than that of the other plant organs. This is more obvious in B. oleracea var. capitata for all metals studied. Thus, B. oleracea var. capitata possesses the potential for phytoremediation of soils contaminated by metals since this plant is removable together with its roots from the contaminated soil. The most contaminated leaves showed a variation in surface roughness. In V. phlomoides the non-glandular, branched candelabrum-like trichomes on the leaf epidermis effectively trapped and retained a considerable number of particles. In contrast, the waxy cuticle of R. acetosa, which forms a smooth sheet over the epidermal cells, enabled the fast removal of particles by rain or wind. In the case of Z. mays, seeds accumulated the lowest amount of all metals.

Manganese, nickel and zinc were determined in soils and 4 plants (2 cultivated: Brassica oleracea, Zea mays and 2 non cultivated: Rumex acetosa, Verbascum phlomoides) around the Coal Power Plant (CPP) - Agios Dimitrios, the largest CPP in Greece. In general, roots showed a higher metal content compared to the other over ground parts. This is more prominent in Brassica oleracea for all studied metals except zinc, where the highest zinc concentration is found in the sclerechyma (central vein) of the internal leaf. Thus, Brassica oleracea meets the objectives of phytoremediartion of lands contaminated by heavy metals. Periodically planting of Brassica oleracea could reduce the level of heavy metals in the area in order to clean up and prepare soils for other cultivations. The most contaminated leaves revealed a variation in epidermis roughness. In Verbascum phlomoides the multicellular, multilevel hairs on the leaf surface fixed a considerable number of air particles effectively. In contrast, the waxy cuticle of Rumex acetosa, enabled the fast rinsing of the air particles by rainwater and wind. The aim of the present study is also to highlight the differences in the ability of various plant organs or tissues to accumulate heavy metals, using cultivated (crops) and non-cultivated (native) plans found around the coal power plant. Pollution monitoring, especially by crops, may provide useful information for the design of monitoring networks that can facilitate the determination and intercomparison of metals around CPPs internationally.