Indigenous Plant Species with the Potential for the Phytoremediation of Arsenic and Metals Contaminated Soil

Abstract

Here we present results of a survey conducted to identify and characterize spontaneously growing arsenic-tolerant plant species of the area around the old arsenic/gold mine in ZlotyStok (Poland), with respect of their potential use in phytoremediation. Plants and soil from their rhizosphere were sampled and analyzed for concentrations of As and accompanying Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca, Al, Cu, Zn, Ba, Pb, Ni, Cs, V, Cr, Sr, Rb, Bi, Mo and U. The soil contained primarily very high As, Pb and Al concentrations (up to 7,451, 1,058 and 31,272 mg/kg respectively). The ability of identified species to modify the amount of bioavailable arsenic in their rhizosphere was determined by single extractions of soil samples with the use of water, phosphate buffer, EDTA, and acetic acid. Although As-hyperaccumulators were not found, Calamagrostis arundinaca was identified as a new species which successfully carried out the natural phytoextraction of arsenic. This plant was able to increase substantially the arsenic availability in the soil, and likely due to efficient uptake decreased the total As concentration within the root zone by around 40% relative to the reference soil. Thus, it has high potential for phytoremediation. The lowest amount of available arsenic was found in the rhizosphere of Stachys sylvatica, the species with the lowest As shoot concentration (compared with other plant species). It was proposed as a good candidate for phytostabilization.

Arsenic and Heavy Metal Uptake and Accumulation in Native Plant Species from Soils Polluted by Mining Activities

“…Arsenic mining is one example of these activities, as soil and water around mines contain increased concentrations of arsenic as well as heavy metals (Antosiewicz et al 2008;Sridhar et al 2007). In addition, several studies have reported a high degree of arsenic and/or heavy metal pollution in soils affected by the oxidation of pyritic materials (Alvarenga et al 2004;Antosiewicz et al 2008;Moreno-Jiménez et al 2009.…”

“…Arsenic mining is one example of these activities, as soil and water around mines contain increased concentrations of arsenic as well as heavy metals (Antosiewicz et al 2008;Sridhar et al 2007). In addition, several studies have reported a high degree of arsenic and/or heavy metal pollution in soils affected by the oxidation of pyritic materials (Alvarenga et al 2004;Antosiewicz et al 2008;Moreno-Jiménez et al 2009. The risks for both environment and human health from arsenic and toxic heavy metals (specifically Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) are associated with the forms bioavailable to plants ( Kabata-Pendias 2004;Zhao et al 2009).…”

“…Although there is no established standard method for these types of studies, the use of a 0.01-mol L −1 calcium chloride solution is widely recommended for the leaching of heavy metals present in exchangeable fractions of soils (Houba et al 2000;Kabata-Pendias 2004;Pueyo et al 2004Pueyo et al , 2005Sahuquillo et al 2003;Takeda et al 2006). Similarly, phosphate or acetate solutions have been reported to be better extractants for estimating the bioavailable arsenic in contaminated soils (Anawar et al 2008;Antosiewicz et al 2008;Moreno-Jiménez et al 2010).…”

“…For example, Alvarenga et al (2004) reported the Mn accumulator capacity of the native aromatic bush Cistus ladanifer in the mining region of Aljustrel (Portugal), whereas Moreno-Jiménez et al (2009) reported the Cd and Zn accumulator capacity of Salix atrocinerea and Digitalis thapsi from the Mónica mine surroundings (Bustarviejo, Madrid). Additionally, Antosiewicz et al (2008) assessed the ability of several native plant species from an arsenic/gold mine in Zloty Stok (Poland) to modify the amount of bioavailable As in their rhizosphere, reporting the potential of Calamagrostis arundinacea for phytoremediation and of Stachys sylvatica for phytostabilization. Furthermore, Haque et al (2008) reported the Cu hyperaccumulator capacity of the desert broom Baccharis sarothroides Gray growing on mine tailings in Arizona (USA); this plant can be also considered a Mo, Cr, and Zn accumulator.…”

Is phytoremediation a sustainable and reliable approach to clean-up contaminated water and soil in Alpine areas?

“…Since it is always more appropriate to use local species for phytoremediation than exotic plants (Yoon et al 2006;Antosiewicz et al 2008;Barrutia et al 2009;Marques et al 2009b), seeds of plants characteristic of this area were chosen: Medicago sativa (alfalfa), Trifolium incarnatum (red clover) and a mix of seeds for forage. Alfalfa has the capacity to accumulate metal(oid)s above the tolerance levels of other plants and has the characteristics required by a plant for the extraction from contaminated water and soil (Peralta-Videa et al 2001).…”