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Saponaria officinalis L. and Achillea millefolium L. as possible indicators of trace elements pollution caused by mining and metallurgical activities in Bor, Serbia

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Abstract

This study evaluates bioaccumulation and translocation potentials of trace elements (TEs) by Saponaria officinalis L. (soapwort) and Achillea millefolium L. (yarrow) in order to select and optimize phytoremediation methods for the polluted environment of the city of Bor, Serbia. According to the enrichment factor for soil (i.e., 57.9–128.8 for Cd and As), pollution index (i.e., 6.6–84.7 for Cu), pollution load index (2.9–98.8), individual potential risk factors (11.5–5163), and potential ecological risk index values (260–6379), urban and rural soils from the city of Bor were classified as very contaminated with the investigated TEs. The results from all the indices and statistical analysis showed significant ecological risks of Cu, As, and Cd at the investigated sites and urge the need for remediation. The enrichment factor of the plants for As (566.3) and Cd (306.2) indicated a high enrichment level of the herb organs at all the sites. Since there are small differences in metal accumulation index values between the herbs and their parts (root, shoot), soapwort and yarrow can be considered as potential bioindicators. Based on the biological concentration and translocation factors, soapwort can be recommended as a suitable herb for phytoextraction purposes of Pb, As, and Cd polluted areas. Yarrow shows good characteristics for phytoextraction of Cu, Pb, and As from the contaminated soil. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) results indicate their similar origin from atmospheric deposition. Therefore, these herbs can be utilized as a bioindicator and phytoremediator in polluted areas influenced by metallurgical activities to detect possible levels of TEs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia for the financial support (Project No. III46010, OI172031). We would also like to express gratitude to our late Prof. Dr. Mile Dimitrijević whose guidance and supervision made this work possible.

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  1. Department of Chemical Technology, Technical Faculty Bor, University of Belgrade, V.J. 12, Bor, 19210, Serbia

    Maja Nujkić, Snežana Milić, Boban Spalović, Slađana Alagić & Aleksandra Papludis

  2. School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada

    Anastassios Dardas

  3. Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4L8, Canada

    Darko Ljubić

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Nujkić, M., Milić, S., Spalović, B. et al. Saponaria officinalis L. and Achillea millefolium L. as possible indicators of trace elements pollution caused by mining and metallurgical activities in Bor, Serbia. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 44969–44982 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-10371-5

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