Abstract
Mining wastes generate high environmental impacts, and population exposure to metals and metalloids. Phytoremediation is a technology that uses plants to remediate polluted sites, but one of its limitations is seed germination in soil with a high content of metals and metalloids. Bouteloua dactyloides (former Buchloe dactyloides) is a native species from semiarid regions, while Cynodon dactylon is an invasive species; both are tolerant to harsh soil conditions. The objective of this research was to evaluate the germination of both species, exposed to a multi-polluted soil with As, Cd, Pb, and Zn of a mining site, considering different pH conditions (from 5.0 to 9.0). The study considered four repetitions by type of seed and soil pH. The highest germination of B. dactyloides was 83% at pH 7.8, while the greatest germination of C. dactylon was 34% at pH 6.0. These percentages are similar to those obtained in a standard germination test, which are 82.5% for B. dactyloides and 35% for C. dactylon. Germination was not reached in either species with soil at pH 5, owing to the fact that metals are more bioavailable in acid environments. B. dactyloides and C. dactylon had a high potential to germinate in multi-polluted soil at neutral pH, but further experiments are needed.
Highlights
The wastes generated by mining are a high-impact environmental problem because the population can be exposed to metals and metalloids
The amount of Zn in the analyzed soil exceeded the reference concentration (Rc) established in Mexico for ecological risk at 300 mg of Zn kg−1 and human health risk at 800 mg of Zn kg−1 [19] (Table 2)
The concentration of total and soluble metals in the used soils for germination supported the supposition that the site of collection is highly polluted with As, Cd, Pb, and Zn
Summary
The wastes generated by mining are a high-impact environmental problem because the population can be exposed to metals and metalloids. A change of pH and oxidation state can increase or decrease the potential bioavailability of metals in soil [1]. Metals such as Zn, Cu, and Mn are essential for living organisms at low concentrations, but become toxic at increasing concentrations. Toxic elements (PTE) in Mexico, such as Pb, Cd, Zn, As, Se, and Hg, are commonly derived from mining processes [5]. From these elements, Pb and Cd are the pollutants most frequently found in the mining zones of the country [6]. If metals are bioavailable in the soil, they can affect the fertility and/or later land use, as well as induce population exposure [7]
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