Abstract
Contamination by heavy metals is one of the major threats to soil and water as well as human health. Much at- tention is being paid to metal-accumulating plants that may be used for the phytoremediation of contaminated soils. Some plants can accumulate remarkable levels of metals, 100-1000-fold the levels normally accumulated in most species. This study evaluated the potential of mercury accumulation of 17 plant species growing on contaminated sites in the ex- in- dustrial area of the PVC Factory, Vlora, Albania. Plant roots, shoots and soil samples were collected and analyzed for the selected metal concentration values. The biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) was calculated to evaluate the potential use of plant species for phytoremediation purposes. The concentration of Hg in soils inside the contaminated area varied from 45-301 mg/kg -1 . The concentration of Hg in plant shoots and roots varied from 0.1 to 12.9 mg/kg -1 and 0.1 to 4.2 mg/kg -1 , respectively. Species Medicago sativa L. and Dittrichia viscosa (L.) W. Greuter were found to be the most suitable plants for phytoremediation of the site contaminated with mercury (BAC values varied from 30-10 percent, respectively). Considering the BAC values, none of the plant species was found to be a hyperaccumulator; however, plants with high BCF (metal concentration ratio of plant root to soil) and low BTC (metal concentration ratio of plant shoots to roots) have the potential for phytostabilization and phytoextraction. The results of this study can be used for the management and decon- tamination of soils with mercury using plant species having phytoremediation potential/characteristics.
Highlights
Heavy metals are a major environmental concern
The highest concentration of mercury in soils was found inside the contaminated area of the PVC Factory, about 301.5 mg/kg-1, whereas at the Orikumi station, located 5 km from the factory, the mercury content was 0.39 mg/kg-1
The content of mercury at this station was below the permitted levels of mercury content in soils, according UNEP 2002, which determines that the levels of mercury that do not have ecological impact vary from 0.07 to 0.4 mg/kg
Summary
Heavy metals are a major environmental concern. They are harmful to humans and animals, and tend to bioaccumulate in the food chain. Industrial and municipal wastes generate a great deal of particulate emissions and waste slag enriched in heavy metals that contaminate the surrounding soil, water and air. Such effects are serious and pose a severe ecological and human health risk when smelting works are located in the vicinity of urban environments (Gutiérrez-Ginés et al, 2010). In Albania there are many sites heavily polluted by harmful substances released into the environment. One of these sites is the former Soda-PVC plant, a factory that produced polyvinylchloride (PVC), chlorine, caustic soda, hydrogen, hydrochloric acid and other chemicals.
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