Mobility of Heavy Metals in Plants and Soil: A Case Study From a Mining Region in Canada

Abstract

Understanding the dynamic of metals in soil and plantsis essential for ecosystem management and risks assessment of environmental pollution and sustainability.The main objective of the present study is to determine the mobility of Ni, Cu, Fe, Mg and Zn in soil and their translocation in D. cespitosa plants in a mining region in Northern Ontario.The total amount of Cu, Ni, Fe, Mg and Zn were significantly higher in the top horizon (LFH) compared to the adjacent layer Ae. The vertical distribution of metals in soil varied with the type of metals. The results of this study indicated that only a small portion of total metal was bioavailable to plants. The enrichment factor values for the targeted elements were far above the value of contamination resulting in high availability and distribution of metals in soil. The average bioconcentration/bioaccumulation factors (metal concentration ratio of plant roots to soil) was high and varied from 3.1 to 40 for Cu, 24.5 to 91.6 for Fe, 18.2 to 398.6 for Mg, 10.3 to 75.5 for Ni and 24.9 to 73 for Zn. The translocation factor values were very low for the five metals. They ranged from 0.05 to 0.46 for Cu, 0.03 to 0.1 for Fe, 0.28 to 1.48 for Mg, 0.15 to 0.38 for Ni and 0.68 to 1.16 for Zn. Based on existing classification, Deschampsia. cespitosa is an excluder as it has high levels of metals in the roots but with a shoot/root ratio less than 1. This plant has a high potential for phytoextraction of metals from Northern Ontario soils.

Assessing Soil Respiration as an Indicator of Soil Microbial Activity in Reclaimed Metal Contaminated Lands

“…Mining, roasting as well as smelting of these elements have caused sulphur dioxide fumigations and metal particulate depositions which have led to various detrimental effects on the overall environmental quality of the Greater Sudbury region (Winterhalder, 1996;Amiro and Courtin, 1981). Concentrations of metals such as nickel and copper have been detected in higher concentrations in areas around the smelters compared to distal sites (Amiro Courtin, 1981;Nkongolo et al, 2008;2013;Mehes-Smith et al, 2013). The increased metal-binding capacity of the soil coupled with its' lessened degree of organic matter were extremely damaging to the Sudbury landscape.…”

Heavy metal contamination of topsoil and parts of peach-tree growing at different distances from a smelting complex

“…Usually, these are wild-growing species, which have developed successful strategies for HM tolerance. Therefore, plants with high tolerance to HMs are the subject of intensive research in terms of their use for phytoremediation and biomonitoring around mineral-ore mines and smelters (Gonzalez and Gonzalez-Chavez 2006;Mingorance et al 2007;Antonijević et al 2008;Rashed 2010;Ashraf et al 2011;Balabanova et al 2012;Mehes-Smith et al 2013;Saba et al 2015).…”

Sorption of Cu and Zn in low organic matter-soils as influenced by soil properties and by the degree of soil weathering

“…Yet these metals have a contrasting behavior in soils, with Zn typically being found more mobile and available than Cu (Mehes-Smith et al, 2014). Thus we aimed at studying Cu and Zn sorption and desorption behavior in 21 soils, chosen in such a way as to have contrasting pH values (acidic and alkaline), and to represent the three main soil classification orders of the Mediterranean region, groups identified as newly developed (Entisols), moderately developed (Inceptisols) and progressed in weathering (Alfisols).…”