Open mining pits and heaps of waste material as the source of undesirable substances: biomonitoring of air and soil pollution in former mining area (Dubnik, Slovakia)

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2019 Dec;26(34):35227-35239. doi: 10.1007/s11356-019-06582-0. Epub 2019 Nov 6.

Abstract

Moss and lichen bag technique (Dicranum sp., Hypnum sp., Polytrichum sp., Hypogymnia physodes) and activity of soil enzymes (urease, acid and alkaline phosphatase, fluorescein diacetate, ß-glucosidase) were used as bioindicators of air and soil pollution in Dubník former mining area (East Slovakia). Ten open mining pits and 8 heaps of waste material were chosen for the research purposes. Contamination factor (Cf), degree of contamination (Cd), and pollution load index (PLI) were used to evaluate the level of soil pollution and relative accumulation factor (RAF) expressed the level of air pollution by risk elements (As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sb, Pb, Zn). Based the degree of contamination results, the study area was polluted by individual elements in the following order: Fe>Cd>As>Pb>Sb>Zn>Cu>Ni>Mn. The highest values of Mn and Ni and lower values of urease were determined in open mining pits comparing heaps of waste material. The results of PLI index confirmed extreme pollution at all sampling sites. Considering the average RAF values showed the decrease of accumulation abilities of evaluated taxa in the following order: Dicranum sp.>Hypnum sp.>Hypogymnia physodes>Polytrichum sp.

Keywords: Activity of soil enzymes; Contamination factor; Degree of contamination; Mining bodies; Moss and lichen bag technique; Relative accumulation factor.

MeSH terms

  • Air Pollution / analysis
  • Air Pollution / statistics & numerical data*
  • Biological Monitoring*
  • Bryophyta
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Environmental Pollution
  • Lichens
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis
  • Mining*
  • Slovakia
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis*
  • Waste Products

Substances

  • Metals, Heavy
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Waste Products