Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Accumulation of heavy metals in native plants growing on mining-influenced sites in Jinchang: a typical industrial city (China)

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Such activities as mining, metal ore smelting and the discharging of mining wastes lead to heavy metal contamination. Phytoremediation, including phytoextraction and phytostabilization, has been considered for a long time to be effective in remediating metal-polluted soils. This research assessed the chance of 40 plants (35 species) distributing on mining-influenced sites for phytoremediation purposes. The results showed that total soil Ni, Cu, Cd, Cr and Co concentrations were in the ranges of 107–3045, 116–2580, 7.1–22.7, 115–897 and 23.2–144.3 mg kg−1, respectively, whereas heavy metal contents in plants were in the ranges of 0.60–435.61, 2.41–298.31, 0.03–32.10, 0.08–88.20 and 0.11–28.52 mg kg−1, respectively. Therefore, no species can be used for phytoextraction purposes because no hyperaccumulator was identified. Salsola passerine, Stipa capillata, Cynanchum Chinense and Halogeton glomeratus with translocation factor (TF) > 1 for all five metals were considered to be accumulators. All plants were observed to hold a bioconcentration factor (BCF) < 1, except for Caragana korshinskii, which had a BCF for Cd > 1, reflecting its low metal accumulation potential. Among the species studied, Oxytropis aciphylla, Salix matsudana, Tamarix hispida, Robinia pseudoacacia, Picea crassifolia, Lycium barbarum and Phragmites communis had both a BCF and TF < 1 for all five metals and were considered the most suitable for the phytostabilization of metal-polluted sites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Allen SE (1989) Analysis of vegetation and other organic materials. In: Allen SE (ed) Chemical analysis of ecological materials. Blackwell, Oxford, pp 46–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Alloway BJ (1994) Toxic metals in soil-plant systems. Wiley, Chichester

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacchetta G, Cappai G, Carucci A, Tamburini E (2015) Use of native plants for remediation of abandoned mine sites in Mediterranean semiarid environments. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 94:326–333

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker AJM (1981) Accumulators and excluders strategies in the response of plant to heavy metal. J Plant Nutr 3:643–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker AJM, Brooks RR (1989) Terrestrial higher plants which hyperaccumulate metallic elements- a review of their distribution, ecology and phytochemistry. Biorecovery 1:81–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Baker AJM, Reeves RD, Hajar ASM (1994) Heavy metal accumulation and tolerance in British populations of the metallophyte Thlaspi caerulescens J. & C. Presl (Brassicaceae). New Phytol 127:61–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bhuiyan MAH, Parvez L, Islam MA, Dampare SB, Suzuki S (2010) Heavy metal pollution of coal mine-affected agricultural soils in the northern part of Bangladesh. J Hazard Mater 173:384–392

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bradshaw AD (1993) Understanding the fundamentals of succession. In: Miles J, Walton DH (eds) Primary succession on land. Blackwell, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Cao X, Ma LQ, Chen M, Singh SP, Harris WG (2002) Impacts of phosphate amendments on lead biogeochemistry in a contaminated site. Environ Sci Technol 36:5296–5304

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carrasco L, Gattinger A, Fließbach A, Roldán A, Schloter M, Caravaca F (2010) Estimation by PLFA of microbial community structure associated with the rhizosphere of Lygeum spartum and Piptatherum miliaceum growing in semiarid mine tailings. Microb Ecol 60:265–271

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Concas S, Lattanzi P, Bacchetta G, Barbafieri M, Vacca A (2015) Zn, Pb and Hg contents of Pistacia lentiscus L. grown on heavy metal-rich soils: implications for phytostabilization. Water Air Soil Pollut 226:340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cong ZL (1997) The control of desertified land with tailings from excavating minerals in Jinchang city. J Desert Res 17:317–321 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Dimitriou I, Aronsson P (2010) Landfill leachate treatment with willows and poplars—efficiency and plant response. Waste Manage 30:2137–2145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dinh NT, Vu DT, Mulligan D, Nguyen AV (2015) Accumulation and distribution of zinc in the leaves and roots of the hyperaccumulator Noccaea caerulescens. Environ Exp Bot 110:85–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • GB 15618-1995. Environmental quality standard for soils. State Environmental Protection Administration

  • González-Valdez E, Alarcón A, Ferrera-Cerrato R, Vega-Carrillo HR, Maldonado-Vega M, Salas-Luévano MÁ (2016) Seed germination and seedling growth of five plant species for assessing potential strategies to stabilizing or recovering metals from mine tailings. Water Air Soil Pollut 227:24

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hagemeyer J, Waisel Y (1988) Excretion of ions (Cd2+, Li+, Na+ and Cl−) by Tamarix aphylla. Physiol Plantarum 73:541–546

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • He MZ, Hu TG, Cheng BR, Chen XH, Nie KH, Zhang LY, Cheng SY (2014) Research progress on phytoremediation to polluted environments by mine tailings in arid regions. J Desert Res 34:1329–1336 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Hu R, Sun K, Su X, Pan YX, Zhang YF, Wang XP (2012) Physiological responses and tolerance mechanisms of Pb in two xerophils: Salsola passerina Bunge and Chenopodium album L. J Hazard Mater 205:131–138

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kabata-Pendias A (2011) Trace elements in soils and plants, 4th edn. CRC Press, Boca Raton, p 24

    Google Scholar 

  • Kabata-Pendias A, Pendias H (1992) Trace elements in soils and plants, 2nd edn. FL, CRC Press, Boca Raton

    Google Scholar 

  • Kohler J, Caravaca F, Azcón R, Díaz G, Roldán A (2015) The combination of compost addition and arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculation produced positive and synergistic effects on the phytomanagement of a semiarid mine tailing. Sci Total Environ 514:42–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lefèvre I, Marchal G, Meerts P, Corréal E, Lutts S (2009) Chloride salinity reduces cadmium accumulation by the Mediterranean halophyte species Atriplex halimus L. Environ Exp Bot 65:142–152

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XH, Tang ZL, Chu FY (2008) Chemical forms of heavy metals in soil and sediments around Jinchuan and Baiyin mines, Gansu province. Geol Sci Technol Inf 27:95–100 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liao XY, Chen TB, Wu B, Yan XL, Nie CJ, Xie H, Zhai LM, Xiao XY (2006) Mining urban soil pollution: concentrations and patterns of heavy metals in the soils of Jinchang, China. Geogr Res 25:843–852 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liao XY, Chen TB, Yan XL, Xie H, Zhai LM, Nie CJ, Xiao XY, Wu B (2007) Heavy metals in plants growing on Ni/Cu mining areas in desert, northwest China and adaptive pioneer species. J Nat Res 22:486–495 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu GS (1996) Soil physical and chemical analysis description of soil profiles. Standards Press of China, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu XW, Ding HX, Nan ZR, Zhao ZJ, Liu Y (2009) Research on the bioavailability and spatial distribution of heavy in suburb cropland, Jinchang city, Gansu, China. Ecol Environ 18:138–142 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu Y, Li XR, He MZ, Zeng FJ (2013) Behavior of native species Arrhenatherum elatius (Poaceae) and Sonchus transcaspicus (Asteraceae) exposed to a heavy metal-polluted field: plant metal concentration, phytotoxicity, and detoxification responses. Int J Phytore 15:924–937

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lutts S, Lefèvre I (2015) How can we take advantage of halophyte properties to cope with heavy metal toxicity in salt-affected areas? Ann Bot 115:509–528

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma LQ, Komar KM, Tu C, Zhang W (2001) A fern that hyperaccumulates arsenic. Nature 409:579

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marchiol L, Fellet G, Boscutti F, Montella C, Mozzi R, Guarino C (2013) Gentle remediation at former “Pertusola Sud” zinc smelter: evaluation of native species for phytoremediation purposes. Ecol Eng 53:343–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mendez MO, Maier RM (2008) Phytostabilization of mine tailings in arid and semiarid environments—an emerging remediation technology. Environ Health Perspect 116:278–283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Monterroso C, Fodríguez F, Chaves R, Diez J, Becerra-Castro C, Kidd PS, Macías F (2014) Heavy metal distribution in mine-soils and plants growing in a Pb/Zn-mining area in NW Spain. Appl Geochem 44:3–11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moreira H, Marques APGC, Rangel AOSS, Castro PML (2011) Heavy metal accumulation in plant species indigenous to a contaminated Portuguese site: prospects for phytoremediation. Water Air Soil Pollut 221:377–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mulligan CN, Yong RN, Gibbs BF (2001) Remediation technologies for metal-contaminated soils and groundwater, an evaluation. Eng Geol 60:193–207

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nadimi-Goki M, Wahsha M, Bini C, Kato Y, Vianello G, Antisari LV (2014) Assessment of total soil and plant elements in rice-based production systems in NE Italy. J Geochem Explor 147:200–214

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nanjing Institute of Soil Research (1980) Analysis of soil physical and chemical features. Shanghai Science and Technology Press, Shanghai

    Google Scholar 

  • Nouri J, Lorestani B, Yousefi N, Khorasani N, Hasani AH, Seif F, Cheraghi M (2011) Phytoremediation potential of native plants grown in the vicinity of Ahangaran lead-zinc mine (Hamedan, Iran). Environ Earth Sci 62:639–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pandey VC, Singh K, Singh EP, Singh B (2012) Naturally growing Saccharum munja L. on the fly ash lagoons: a potential ecological engineer for the revegetation and stabilization. Ecol Eng 40:95–99

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Parraga-Aguado I, González-Alcaraz M, Álvarez-rogel J, Conesa HM (2014) Assessment of the employment of halophyte plant species for the phytomanagement of mine tailings in semiarid areas. Ecol Eng 71:598–604

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pérez-Esteban J, Escolástico C, Moliner A, Masaguer A, Ruiz-Fernández J (2014) Phytostabilization of metals in mine soils using Brassica juncea in combination with organic amendments. Plant Soil 377:97–109

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roccotiello E, Serrano HC, Mariotti MG, Branquinho C (2015) Nickel phytoremediation potential of the Mediterranean Alyssoides utriculata (L.) Medik. Chemosphere 119:1372–1378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Salt DE, Blayblock M, Nanda Kumar NPBA, Dushenkov V, Ensley BD, Chet I, Raskin I (1995) Phytoremediation: a novel strategy for the removal of toxic metals from the environment using plants. Biotechnology 13:468–474

    Google Scholar 

  • Singh R, Singh DP, Kumar N, Bhargava SK, Barman SC (2010) Accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in soil and plants from fly ash contaminated area. J Environ Biol 31:421–430

    Google Scholar 

  • Sun Z, Chen JJ, Wang XW, Lv C (2016) Heavy metal accumulation in native plants at a metallurgy waste site in rural areas of Northern China. Ecol Eng 86:60–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verkleij JAC, Schat H, Shaw AJ (1990) Mechanisms of metal tolerance in higher plants. In: Shaw JA (ed) Heavy metal tolerance in plants: evolutionary aspects. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 179–193

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang X, Liu YG, Zeng GM, Chai LY, Xiao X, Song XC, Min ZY (2008) Pedological characteristics of Mn mine tailings and metal accumulation by native plants. Chemosphere 72:1260–1266

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wong MH (2003) Ecological restoration of mine degraded soils, with emphasis on metal contaminated soils. Chemosphere 50:775–780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang GS (1997) The mechanism of sand damage formation from tailings and engineering control measures. J Desert Res 17:435–441 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang WD, Ding ZL, Zhao FL, Wang YY, Zhang XC, Zhu ZQ, Yang XE (2015) Comparison of manganese tolerance and accumulation among 24 Salix clones in a hydroponic experiment: application for phytoremediation. J Geochem Exp 149:1–7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yoon J, Cao XD, Zhou QX, Ma LQ (2006) Accumulation of Pb, Cu, and Zn in native plants growing on a contaminated Florida site. Sci Total Environ 368:456–464

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zou TJ, Li TX, Zhang XZ, Yu HY, Huang HG (2012) Lead accumulation and phytostabilization potential of dominant plant species growing in a lead-zinc mine tailing. Environ Earth Sci 65:621–630

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zu YQ, Li Y, Schvartz C, Langlade L, Liu F (2004) Accumulation of Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in plants and hyperaccumulator choice in Lanping lead-zinc mine area, China. Environ Int 30:567–576

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was sponsored by the Chinese National Natural Scientific Foundation (No. 41301103) and the Science and Technology Service Network Initiative (No. KFJ-SW-STS-176).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 818 South Beijing Road, Urumqi, 830011, China

    Yan Lu, Fanjiang Zeng & Xiangyi Li

  2. Cele National Station of Observation and Research for Desert-Grassland Ecosystems, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China

    Yan Lu, Fanjiang Zeng & Xiangyi Li

  3. Key Laboratory of Biogeography and Bioresource in Arid Land, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi, 830011, Xinjiang, China

    Yan Lu, Fanjiang Zeng & Xiangyi Li

  4. Shapotou Desert Research and Experiment Station, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, Gansu, China

    Xinrong Li & Mingzhu He

Authors
  1. Yan Lu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xinrong Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mingzhu He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Fanjiang Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xiangyi Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yan Lu.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Lu, Y., Li, X., He, M. et al. Accumulation of heavy metals in native plants growing on mining-influenced sites in Jinchang: a typical industrial city (China). Environ Earth Sci 76, 446 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6779-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-017-6779-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation