Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) as Indicators of Geogenic Contamination of Flysch Soils in Eastern Slovakia

Abstract

Contents of potentially toxic elements Fe, Mn, Cr, Ni, Co, V, Cu, and Mo were determined in common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria) to show their usefulness as bioindicators of geogenic soil pollution. Both plants were collected on geochemically anomalous soils developed on flysch sedimentary rocks (Paleogene) of Eastern Slovakia, which also are composed of weathered detritus of some ultramafic rocks. Generally, contents of the investigated association of potentially toxic elements are highly increased in these "serpentine"-like soils. Elevated concentrations were detected in both shoots and roots of the plants. The highest values, which exceed world average values for plants, were observed for Ni content. They ranged from 1.7 to 16.3 mg kg(-1) in dandelion and from 1.6 to 22.6 mg kg(-1) in agrimony. Essential elements, such as Mo, Cu, and Mn, were the most concentrated in plants, whereas Co, V, and Cr were the least concentrated. Although the bioindication value of the common dandelion for anthropogenic soil pollution is well known, it is not mentioned for agrimony in literature, and no data exist to indicate the geogenic pollution for both plants. Dandelion and agrimony are widely used as herbal drugs; therefore, our intention also was to point out another fact, namely, possible high uptake of potentially toxic elements by herbal plants growing on similar soils.

Environmental Factors Determining the Accumulation of Metals: Cu, Zn, Mn and Fe in Tissues of Taraxacum sp. sect. Taraxacum

“…The statistically significant correlation between the concentration of the analysed metals in the soil and their content in leaves and roots of plants corroborates the literature data (Bini et al 2012; Collier et al 2010; Cook et al 1994; Čurlík et al 2016; Królak 2003) on the usefulness of species from the Taraxacum genus, including the Taraxacum section, in bioindication studies. It should also be noted that the studied species accumulated higher amounts of Zn, Mn and Fe in leaves compared to roots, while more Cu was accumulated in roots than in leaves.…”

“…Based on the ratio: the concentration of a metal in the root and the concentration of a metal in the soil, values of metal biological concentration factors (BCF) were calculated, while based on the ratio: the concentration of a metal in leaves and the concentration of a metal in the root, values of metal translocation factors (TF) were calculated (Čurlík et al 2016; Malik et al 2010). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was performed to determine the effect of selected chemical indices on the cumulation and translocation factors.…”

“…with heavy metals such as Zn, Cu, Mn and Fe. These metals play significant metabolic functions in the human body and they are often studied in herbal plants, including tissues of Taraxacum (Bini et al 2012; Cook et al 1994; Čurlík et al 2016; Kabata-Pendias and Dudka 1991; Królak 2003). Due to difficulties in the identification of dandelion species, most studies are conducted within the genus.…”

Heavy Metals Bioindication Potential of the Common Weeds Senecio vulgaris L., Polygonum aviculare L. and Poa annua L.

“…Moreover, it is widely known that trace elements are not found in plant tissues with the same the proportion of their concentrations in soil [49]. The uptake of these elements by plants is selective: essential nutrients (like Zn, Cu, and Mn) are actively taken and show a more linear relation to soil concentration if compared to nonessential nutrient [47,50].…”

Scrap Metal Deposits as Potential Sources of Enhanced Risk in Soil and Vegetation

“…Low BAFs were also determined for Cr. Čurlík et al [47], who reported the low uptake of Co and Cr by T. officinale through both roots and shoots, as did Fröhlichová et al [24]. Low BAFs for As, Cr, and Zn, indicating the limited transport of these elements from soil contaminated by the multi-industry activities to root vegetables, were documented by Ahmed et al [48].…”