Toxicity assessment of Bacopa monnieri L. grown in biochar amended extremely acidic coal mine spoils

• Published in: Ecological engineering 2017-11, Vol.108, p.211-219
• Main Authors: Jain, Shilpi, Singh, Arjun, Khare, Puja, Chanda, D., Mishra, Disha, Shanker, Karuna, Karak, Tanmoy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albinism; Aluminum; Animal tissues; Bacopa; Bacopa monnieri; Bioavailability; Biochar; Biocompatibility; Biomass; Cadmium; Charcoal; Chlorophyll; Chlorophylls; Chromium; Coal; Coal mines; Copper; Estimated daily intake; Fertility; Freshwater plants; Heavy metal content; Heavy metals; Herbs; Iron; Lead; Lipids; Metal availability; Metal concentrations; Overburden; Plant extracts; Plant growth; Plant tissues; Proteins; Pyrolysis; Quotients; Reduction (metal working); Risk assessment; Spoil; Studies; Tissue; Toxicity; Toxicology
• ISSN: 0925-8574; 1872-6992
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoleng.2017.08.039

[Display omitted] •Biochar amendments were made in the acidic coal mine spoils.•Biochar amendments reduced the metal translocation and toxicity of Bacopa.•The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of metals were quite lower than the tolerable limits.•Bacopa grown in coal mine spoils is safe for the intake. The addition of biochar in acidic mine spoils contaminated areas has been suggested for buffering and improving the fertility as well as the reduction in the metal bioavailability. This study evaluated the effect of biochar on reducing the heavy metal content in the Bacopa monnieri L. grown in the biochar amended acidic mine spoil and associated toxicological risks. The mine spoil (overburden) was treated with a biochar made from the fast pyrolysis of waste of Cymbopogon flexuosus at 450°C at application rates of 15% and 20%. Plant analysis (biomass, chlorophyll, protein and lipid peroxidises), metabolite content and metal levels (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe and Pb) in the Bacopa monnieri L. herb. Hazardous quotient and acute oral toxicity of plant and its extract cultivated was carried out. The results showed that biochar amendment significantly improved biomass of the plant as well as reduced the metal content in plant tissues. The concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe and Pb in the plant tissues were within the international permissible limits. The risk assessment for bacopa consumption showed that the hazard quotients values were lower than the threshold level for herb (