METAL UPTAKE BY NATIVE PLANTS AND REVEGETATION POTENTIAL OF MINING SULFIDE-RICH WASTE-DUMPS

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2014

Authors

Patricia Gomes (Author) Other; Teresa Valente (Author) Other; Jorge Pamplona (Author) Other; Maria Amalia S Sequeira Braga (Author) Other; Jose Pissarra (Author) FCUP; Jose Antonio G Grande Gil (Author) Other; Maria L Luisa de la Torre (Author) Other

Journal

Title: International Journal of Phytoremediation

Vol. 16

Pages: 1087-1103

ISSN: 1522-6514

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 5 Citations

Scopus - 4 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Natural sciences > Earth and related Environmental sciences

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-009-6BA

DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2013.810586

Abstract (EN): Waste dumps resulting from metal exploitation create serious environmental damage, providing soil and water degradation over long distances. Phytostabilization can be used to remediate these mining sites. The present study aims to evaluate the behavior of selected plant species (Erica arborea, Ulex europaeus, Agrostis delicatula, and Cytisus multiflorus) that grow spontaneously in three sulfide-rich waste-dumps (Lapa Grande, Cerdeirinha, and Penedono, Portugal). These sites represent different geological, climatic and floristic settings. The results indicate distinctive levels and types of metal contamination: Penedono presents highest sulfate and metal contents, especially As, with low levels of Fe. In contrast, at Lapa Grande and Cerdeirinha Fe, Mn, and Zn are the dominant metals. In accordance, each waste dump develops a typical plant community, providing a specific vegetation inventory. At Penedono, Agrostis delicatula accumulates As, Pb, Cu, Mn, and Zn, showing higher bioaccumulation factors (BF) for Mn (32.1) and As (24.4). At Cerdeirinha, Ulex europaeus has the highest BF for Pb (984), while at Lapa Grande, Erica arborea presents high BF for Mn (9.8) and Pb (8.1). Regarding TF, low values were obtained for most of the metals, especially As (TF < 1). Therefore, the results obtained from representative plant species suggest appropriate behavior for phytostabilization measures.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 17