Screening of native plant species for phytoremediation potential at a Hg-contaminated mining site

Screening of native plant species for phytoremediation potential at a Hg-contaminated mining site

Background

This study was conducted in one of the most important Artisanal and small-scale (ASGM) gold-mining sites in Colombia, to identify native plant species growing in Mercury contaminated soils used for agricultural purposes, and to assess their potential as phytoremediation systems.

Conclusions & Takeaways

Twenty-four native plant species were identified and analysed for total Mercury in different tissues. Several plants were identified as promising native plants to remediate contaminated soils, indicating their potential to decontaminate soils in tropical areas impacted by ASGM sites.

Reference: 

Marrugo-Negrete J, Marrugo-Madrid S, Pinedo-Hernández J, Durango-Hernández J, Díez S. Screening of native plant species for phytoremediation potential at a Hg-contaminated mining site. Science of The Total Environment. 2016;542:809–816. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.117.

Affiliation: 

  • University of Córdoba, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Water, Applied and Environmental Chemistry Group, Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Management, Montería, Colombia
  • Environmental Chemistry Department, Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, IDÆA-CSIC, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain