Assessment of native plants for their potential to remove trace metals around Legadembi tailings dam, Southern Ethiopia

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2023-04, Vol.30 (19), p.55615-55624
• Main Authors: Mengistu, Gera Techane, Sahilu, Geremew, Mulat, Worku, Amare, Elfu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Bioaccumulation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Biological magnification; Cadmium; Copper; Crypsis alopecuroides; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Ethiopia; Evaluation; Indigenous plants; Indigenous species; Metal concentrations; Metals; Metals, Heavy - analysis; Mine tailings; Phytoremediation; Plant species; Plants; Research Article; Roots; Rumex; Soil; Soil contamination; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil pollution; Soils; Tailings; Trace Elements; Trace metals; Translocation; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Zinc
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-023-26349-y

Native plant species growing on metal contaminated soil at the foot of the Legadembi tailings dam were selected to evaluate their phytoremediation potential. For this purpose, soil, aboveground tissues, and roots of plant samples were analyzed for the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd. The bioaccumulation and transfer of metals were evaluated in terms of translocation factor (TF), bioconcentration factor (BCF), and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC). The results showed that most of the species were efficient to take up and translocate more than one trace element (TE) from roots to shoots. Argemone mexicana L., Rumex nepalensis Spreng., Cyperus alopecuroides Rottb., and Schoenoplectu sconfusus (N.E.Br.) Lye showed potential for phytoextraction of Cu, while R. nepalensis and C . alopecuroides can accumulate in their above-ground parts and are suitable for phytoextraction of Ni. Rumex nepalensis , C . alopecuroides , and Typha latifolia L. have the ability for phytostabilization of Zn metal. Findings suggest concentrations of some metals in plants’ tissue showed above the normal range which suggests their potential use in phytoremediation.