This paper presents the results from a study on the current state of tailing dump, surrounding soil and water in the region of Tarniţa-Suceava, Romania. A number of chemical analyses and germination tests were applied in an attempt to estimate the ability of soil to maintain the plants growing, the bioavailability, and heavy metals uptake. Total heavy metals, exchangeable metals, acidity, and carbon and nitrogen content were determined. A modified sequential extraction method was used to determine geochemical phase distribution of heavy metals. The most abundant heavy metals in the studied samples were Cu, Zn, and Pb. Elevated concentrations of As were also found. The results from sequential extraction revealed that up to 51% of copper was retained by amorphous and crystalline iron oxides in soil. Higher content of lead was noticed in amorphous iron oxide fraction. The heavy metal concentration in river water during dry season varied from 0.13 mg/L (Fe) to 4.2 mg/L (Zn) and was below the maximum contamination level for drinking water. The soil toxicity and heavy metal bioavailability of tailing dump material and surrounding soils were studied by germination tests. The germinated plantlets on the studied soils were found to accumulate elevated concentrations of heavy metals thus indicating the bioavailability of soil contaminants. Soil decontamination by distilled water or magnesium nitrate solution was found to be efficient enough to improve the capability of the studied soils to support the germination process.
Keywords: Germination test; Heavy metals; ICP-OES; Sequential extraction; Tailing dump material.