Transfer of metals and metalloids from soil to shoots in wild rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) growing on a former lead smelter site: Human exposure risk

Cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soils

“…However, careful analysis of the extracted essential oils from plants grown at all the conditions tested showed that neither the quality and the content of the oils were altered significantly, nor detectable amounts of heavy metals were found in these oils. These results are also in agreement with Zheljazkov et al, (2006Zheljazkov et al, ( , 2008a, who examined other aromatic plants or some plants common with our study but in different experimental conditions and heavy metal concentrations, with Stancheva et al, (2010) who examined the sage essential oil quality on a contaminated field experiment, with Lal et al, (2013) who examined essential oils and heavy metal accumulation in lemon grass, and with Affholder et al, (2013) who examined the quality of essential oil extracted from leaves of rosemary grown in an old smelter site. Our study supports the idea of utilizing heavy metal contaminated areas for the production of alternative goods, more specifically products from aromatic and medicinal plants with high added value, such as essential oils, the market of which expands globally.…”

“…In general, aromatic plants cannot be considered as phytoextractors, not only because most of the accumulated heavy metals are stored in their roots, but also because their biomass is low. These results clearly exclude aromatic plants grown on heavy metal contaminated fields (at least the plants we examined), from either phytoremediation processes, or from consumption as food supplements or herbs, or for herbal teas, as some of their heavy metal content is expected to be extracted to the concoction (Schilcher and Peters 1990;Chizzola et al 2008;Arpadjan et al 2008;Affholder et al 2013). However, careful analysis of the extracted essential oils from plants grown at all the conditions tested showed that neither the quality and the content of the oils were altered significantly, nor detectable amounts of heavy metals were found in these oils.…”

Arsenic Concentration in Wild Plants Growing on Two Mine Tailings

“…had the highest TF of all plants growing in the two metal mine tailings. Affholder et al (2013) reported BAF< 1 (0.0005); which is below international regulation limits concerning ingestion of medicinal herbs. 19 Baroni et al (2004) reported in 91% of the plants studied BCF <1; while TF for 76% were <2.…”

“…Affholder et al (2013) reported BAF< 1 (0.0005); which is below international regulation limits concerning ingestion of medicinal herbs. 19 Baroni et al (2004) reported in 91% of the plants studied BCF <1; while TF for 76% were <2. 21 In a study regarding 25 plants growing in metal polluted sites, Vamerali et al (2010) reported BAF in the range of 0.0-5.16 being the grass Poa annua with the highest value and TF in the range of 0.09-3.71 where the herb Physalis minima had the highest TF.…”

“…These Arsenic (As) shoot concentrations are higher than those reported by several authors. Affholder et al (2013) 6 Juniperus sp. and Ruta graveolens may be considered Arsenic (As) plant excluders; while Dalea bicolor accumulated low Arsenic (As) concentrations, but still higher than normal and phytotoxic levels.…”