Heavy metal contents and enrichment characteristics of dominant plants in wasteland of the downstream of a lead-zinc mining area in Guangxi, Southwest China

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 151; pp. 266 - 271
• Main Authors: Zhu, Guangxu, Xiao, Huayun, Guo, Qingjun, Song, Bo, Zheng, Guodi, Zhang, Zhongyi, Zhao, Jingjing, Okoli, Chukwunonso Peter
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Inc 30.04.2018
• Subjects: Cd-hyperaccumulator; Dominant Plants; Heavy Metal Pollution; Pb-Zn Mine; Phytoremediation; Heavy Metal Pollution; Dominant Plants; Pb-Zn Mine; Phytoremediation; Cd-hyperaccumulator
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2018.01.011

A field investigation on the content of heavy metals in soils and 17 kinds of dominant plants from wasteland of the downstream of a Pb-Zn mine in Northwest Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region was carried out. The absorption and accumulation characteristics of heavy metals between plants and soil were compared, and the candidate species for ecosystem restoration of the area were selected. The results indicated that the soils had been subjected to pollution of heavy metals in varying degrees. The concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn were 46.5, 57.3 and 23.7 times higher than their corresponding background values, respectively. The contents of Cd, Pb and Zn in the most analyzed plants exceed the normal ranges and the phytotoxic level. C. crepidioides, S. nigrum, B. pilosa, C. Canadensis, A. conyzoides, I. denticulata and E. crusgali showed strong capability in accumulation and transport of Cd, and they could be used as good candidates for Cd- phytoextraction. Among which, Cd concentration in the aerial part of C. crepidioides exceeded the threshold of Cd-hyperaccumulator. Thus, C. crepidioides demonstrated the basic characteristics of a Cd-hyperaccumulator. The lower translocation ratios for Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb in P. vittata and C. chinensis make them suitable for phytostabilization in the study area. •The soils from wasteland of the downstream of a Pb-Zn mining area in Guangxi were seriously polluted by Cd, Pb and Zn.•Some dominant plants were selected for the restoration and phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil in the study area.•Crassocephalum crepidioides (Benth.) S. Moore showed the basic characteristics of a Cd-hyperaccumulator.