Determination of the Heavy Metal Contents and the Benefit/Cost Analysis of Hypericum salsugineum in the Vicinity of Salt Lake

Abstract

In this study, Hypericum salsugineum, an endemic halophytic plant growing around Salt Lake, was analyzed to determine the heavy metals (chromium, lead, copper, zinc and nickel) on it and on the soil it grew. The phytoremediation potential of H. salsugineum was evaluated. In addition, the benefit cost (B/C) analysis was performed for its potential use in phytoremediation. The plant and soil samples were collected from Eskil and Cihanbeyli between May and September in 2016. A total of 300 soil and plant samples were analysed for heavy metal content. Statistical and standard benefit/cost analyses were performed for assessment. The capacity of accumulating the aforementioned heavy metals was found to be high in H. salsugineum. It was found that Ni and Pb ratio exceeded optimum values in its habitat, and H. salsugineum accumulated available Ni and Pb. When the plant was evaluated in terms of benefit/cost, B/C ratio was greater than 1 during the useful life of the study. This conclusion increases the ecological and economical values of H. Salsugineum, effecting its potential use in phytoremediation.

Heavy metal (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contents of endemic Salvia halophila plants around Lake Tuz

“…In various studies conducted around Lake Tuz, it has been reported that especially the Pb and Ni ratios are quite high (Tuğ & Duman, 2010;Demir et al, 2021). In a similar study by Kılıç (2019), the heavy metal accumulation (Ni, Fe, Co, Mn) and the usability of Calepina irregularis species that naturally grown in Amasya, as a biomonitor was investigated.…”

“…According to the study results of Demir et al (2021), the main sources of heavy metal pollution observed around Lake Tuz are domestic and industrial wastes, sewage and septic wastes, volcanic dust and gases, agricultural activities, pesticide use, use of artificial fertilizers and traffic. They reported that Ni and Pb pollution from heavy metals examined in soil samples analyzed from Eskil and Cihanbeyli was higher than the others.…”

“…Researchers attribute the reason for this pollution in the region to the fact that it is close to the main drainage channel carrying the industrial waste coming from Konya, that the surrounding districts are garbage collection areas, and that there is an open and irregular sewer system in parallel. Along with all these situations, it is thought that the location of both regions in the volcanic area is effective in heavy metal accumulation (Demir et al, 2021). It has been reported that the volcanic activity, dust particles blown by the wind and desert dust reaching the area are also important heavy metal sources (Nagajyoti et al, 2010;Srivastava et al, 2017).…”

“…Although, it is such an important area, it has been facing a pollution problem, especially in the last decades. The main sources of pollution are pesticides, heavy metals, detergents, oil, and waste water, which are carried by drainage systems (Tuğ & Duman, 2010;Demir et al, 2021).…”