Accumulation of trace elements in Tussilago farfara colonizing post-flotation tailing sites in Serbia
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Authors
Jakovljević, KsenijaMišljenović, Tomica
Savović, Jelena

Ranković, Dragan

Ranđelović, Dragana
Mihailović, Nevena
Jovanović, Slobodan
Article (Published version)

© 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature
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The purpose of this study was to examine the accumulation potential of spontaneously developed Tussilago farfara populations colonizing sites with different levels of anthropogenic pollution. Physical characteristics of the soil are presented, together with the concentrations of macroelements and microelements (Ca, Mg, Fe, S, Al, Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, As, Sb, Ag, Ti, and Sr) in both soil and plants. The biological concentration, accumulation, and translocation factors were used to assess the potential for heavy metal accumulation. Considerable differences were found among assessions from unevenly contaminated habitats, particularly in comparison with an unpolluted site. In line with the ore’s characteristics, substrate samples from polluted sites were heavily contaminated with Pb, Zn, As, and Sb. Increased levels of microelements were also detected in plant samples from flotation tailings. Despite active absorption of Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, and Sr by the plants from mining sites, the detected q...uantities of these elements in all samples were below the hyperaccumulation threshold. However, the obtained results indicate that the use of T. farfara from such sites in traditional medicine could pose a risk to human health due to accumulation of several toxic elements in the plant’s aboveground tissues. Additionally, as a successful primary colonizer and stabilizer of technogenic substrates, T. farfara has an important role in the initial phases of revegetation of highly contaminated sites. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords:
Medicinal plant / Heavymetal / Mine tailings / Contaminated soil / PhytoremediationSource:
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2020, 27, 4, 4089-4103Projects:
- Plant Biodiversity of Serbia and the Balkans - assesment, sustainable use and protection (RS-173030)
- Magmatism and geodynamics of the Balkan Peninsula from Mesozoic to present day: significance for the formation of metallic and non-metallic mineral deposits (RS-176016)
- Effects of laser radiation and plasma on novel materials in their synthesis, modification, and analysis (RS-172019)
DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-07010-z
ISSN: 0944-1344
PubMed: 31828708