The effect of hazardous pollutants from coal combustion activity: Phytotoxicity assessment of aqueous soil extracts

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2018-05, Vol.199, p.191-200
• Main Authors: Radić, Sandra, Medunić, Gordana, Kuharić, Željka, Roje, Vibor, Maldini, Krešimir, Vujčić, Valerija, Krivohlavek, Adela
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Araceae - drug effects; Araceae - metabolism; Charcoal - chemistry; Coal; Coal Ash - analysis; Coal Ash - toxicity; Croatia; Duckweed; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Metal; Organic pollutant; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Power Plants; Soil - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Toxicity; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace Elements - toxicity
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.008

Airborne fly ash and related hazardous particles derived from coal combustion contaminate soil and groundwater, negatively affecting ecosystems. The aim of this study was chemical and toxicological evaluation of aqueous extracts of soil collected from the vicinity of a coal-fired Plomin power plant (PPP), using Lemna (Lemna minor L.) bioassay and additional biochemical indicators - photosynthetic pigments, lipid peroxidation, antioxidative enzymes and glutathione. Topsoil samples were collected from distances of 200, 300, 400 and 800 m from the PPP in accordance with the prevailing SW wind direction. Elevated levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (up to 15,765 ng L−1) and potentially toxic trace elements were detected in the Plomin soil extracts (PEs) in comparison to control soil extract (CE). Trace elements accumulated in L. minor were mostly in accordance with their concentrations in PEs. The results demonstrate that PEs induced significant growth inhibition and other phytotoxic effects. Those effects can be related to damage caused by increased production of reactive oxygen species and impaired antioxidant levels. The connection among the phytotoxicity, a distribution of analyzed contaminants, and distances from the PPP is clearly established. [Display omitted] •Phytotoxicity of aqueous extracts of coal-contaminated soil was assessed.•Chemical analysis of aqueous extracts and plants was conducted.•Toxic components caused growth inhibition and oxidative stress.•L. minor is suitable in evaluation of complex environmental samples.