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Mercury contamination from human activities is a severe environmental problem. The low cost of rhizofiltration of heavy metal-contaminated environments is causing an increasing interest in these technologies. The present study demonstrates the effectiveness of mercury removal from water by phytoremediation using S. natans. Plants cultured and collected from the environment were used. The study used Hoagland's liquid medium contaminated with mercury: 0.15, 0.20, and 0.30. The bioconcentration factor obtained was 275–780. The relative growth rate was up to 0.12 g/gd and was much better for cultured plants than those collected from the environment. The removal rate of toxic metal was up to 94%. Total protein increased for cultures plants by up to 84%, while it decreased by up to 30% for those taken from the environment. Total chlorophyll for cultured plants decreased by up to 54%, which could be due to the toxic effect of the metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trace elements emitted by road transport cause long-term contamination of road soils. This study showed the effect of the noise barrier on the spatial distribution of metals in soils at the City Centre Ring Road in Wrocław (Poland). Samples were taken along the barrier every 150 m and across the screen at distances of 0.5, 2.5, 5 (only on the left side), 10, 20, and 50 m from the noise screen on both sides of road no. 5. The contamination of soils was assessed with the use of commonly used individual pollution indices, integrated pollution indices based on the PI index or metal concentrations, and a potential ecological risk index (RI). The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) and the single pollution index (PI) indicate moderate contamination of soils by Cu, Pb, and Zn at most measuring points. The significant risk was reported from Cd in all samples. Integrated pollution indices, especially the PI_Nemerow, PI_avg, and RI confirm the poor quality of studied soils. The presence of elements in soil is related to anthropogenic factors. The spatial distribution of pollution indices and results of statistical analysis (HCA) indicate that Cr and Ni are of natural origin. Remaining elements (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) are of mixed origin with a large share from car transport (the significant Spearman's correlation coefficients). In the case of cadmium, dendograms suggest the existence of an additional anthropogenic source, which is also confirmed by moderately strong correlations of this element with other metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality of soils polluted by trace elements around the facilities with the Cu and Zn smelting activities and the post-flotation tailings pond from copper industry were assessed. The level of the contamination of soils was determined on the basis of the contamination factor and the geoaccumulation index. The geoaccumulation index allows to distinguish more degrees of soil contamination and simplifies the assessment of the useable value of soil. The degrees of soil contamination and the pollution load index were shown. It has been shown that the pollution indices are a useful tool in describing the soil quality and planning corrective actions in the areas contaminated as a result of industrial activity. Histograms of pollution indices were used in order to detect the distribution of trace elements in soils. The content of metals in biomass was assessed using bioaccumulation indices. Triticum L. and Brassica napus L. show low bioaccumulation of studied metals in cereal plants. The correlations were used in order to detect the relationship among trace elements in soil as well as the relationship of metal (soil)-metal (plant) and metal bioaccumulation (plant)-metal (soil). The highest values of indices were recorded for the Oława smelter, presumably due to the long operation period before technological changes limiting the emission of pollutants were introduced. This research area was classified as very highly contaminated with all trace elements. Soils around other facilities are at least moderately contaminated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copper and zinc concentrations in soils and grasses near selected communication routes in Wrocław, Poland have been determined. Environmental samples were collected from the surface layer of the soil profile within 3 m from the edge of the road. The analysis of metals in the mineralizates has been carried out by atomic absorptive spectroscopy (AAS). The conductivity and pH of the soil solutions were measured to evaluate the salinity of the soils and also their active and exchangeable acidity. There have been determined the parameters characterizing the content of metals in soils and grasses, the index of the enrichment of soils in zinc and copper (Wn), the bioaccumulation coefficient (WB), histograms of the frequency of metals occurrence in environmental samples. Also it was presented the Pearson's r correlation coefficients for the relationships: Zn in soil/Cu in soil, Zn in grass/Cu in grass, Cu in grass/Cu in soil, Zn in grass/Zn in soil. The research does not indicate exceeding of the permissible content of copper and zinc in the environment. However, in all samples higher content of the metals compared to the geochemical background have been observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salvinia natans L. is a known bioaccumulator of metal ions from the aquatic environment. Exposure of plants to prolonged impact of toxins along with a large dose of the metal affects the physiological condition of the plants. The changes occurring in the plants in the phytoremediation process in contaminated medium culture of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg Cu/dm3 show two basic physiological parameters: the assimilation pigment content (chlorophyll a and b) responsible for the production of energy in the process of photosynthesis, and the total protein level as the main constituent of the plant. Conducted studies confirmed a negative effect of high concentrations of copper(II) on Salvinia natans L. plants which in these conditions are capable to bioaccumulate metal from each contaminated culture medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capacities of the pleustophytes in the purification of the aquatic environments in Polish climatic zone have been evaluated. Studies of bioaccumulation of copper(II) from culture media contaminated with 5, 10, 15 and 20 mg Cu/dm³ by the plants of Salvinia natans species were performed. The process was carried out for 14 days with the use of artificial plant-breeding species. The balance of the content of copper(II) in dry matter of plants and in the culture media was investigated. Capabilities of Salvinia natans to bioaccumulate copper(II) have been confirmed in all contaminated culture media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]