Environmental Engineering and Management Journal

May 2014, Vol.13, No. 5, 1307-1315

http://omicron.ch.tuiasi.ro/EEMJ/

Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Romania

ACCUMULATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS

IN PLANTS WITHIN THE TECHNOGENESIS ZONE
Tatiana Minkina1, Saglara Mandzhieva1, Victor Chapligin1, Galina Motuzova2,
Svetlana Sushkova1, Yuriy Fedorov1, Sergey Kolesnikov1, Tatiana Bauer1
1

Southern Federal University, 194/1, Prosp. Stachki, Rostov-on-Don, 344090, Russia

2
Moscow State University, Department of Soil Science, Moscow, Russia

Abstract
The effects of natural (soil properties) and technogenic factors (atmospheric pollution by harmful industrial discharges, soil
contamination) on accumulation of heavy metals in natural grasslands have been studied at monitoring plots located within the
influence zone of Novocherkassk power station. Contamination of grass plants by Ni, Cd, Zn and Pb occurs at plots located near
this station along the line of wind rose. They are contaminated with Pb and Cd through vehicular emission as well. A relationship
is shown between the amount of slightly bound compounds of heavy metals in soil and their accumulation in plants. The plants
are polluted by heavy metals following the scheme Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Mn > Ni.
Key words: bioavailability, heavy metals, pollution, translocation
Received: July, 2013; Revised final: January, 2014; Accepted: February, 2014

1. Introduction
The studies on input of heavy metals (HM) to
plants are very important practical aspects of
scientific research. First, the plants are considered as
an intermediate reservoir for HM translocation from
water, air and especially from soil to human body,
and the accumulation of heavy metals along the food
chain is a serious threat for animal and human health.
In this case, the techniques to prevent the input of
heavy metals at toxic concentration are required. The
increased concentration of heavy metals is toxic for
plants (Sobariu et al., 2013).
For this reason, a number of problems raises
to determine the plant response to an excessive HM
amount in soil. In the third place, the possible use of
plants as bioindicators for the environment
contamination with heavy metals should be
thoroughly studied (Adriano, 2001; Minkina et al.,
2012a).

Every metal taken up by plants for a long

period is accumulated in them to a definite level,
above which significant harmful changes occur in the
plant quality. Adverse consequences of such
accumulation are manifested in time, depending on
technogenic loads and the response of the soil-plant
system to heavy metals.
In this context, long-term stationary
observations serve as a valuable source of
information. Ecological resistance of plants to
pollutants is the plant ability to eliminate their input
to generative organs. The plants are capable to
accumulate pollutants in the composition of their
organs, which are not so valuable for the plant
homeostasis (Bellos et al., 2014; Bruks, 1996; Crihan
et al., 2013; Minkina et al., 2012a).
The heavy metals of interest in the present
study are Ni, Mn, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The long-term
monitoring allowed evaluating their accumulation in
grasslands located at technogenic territories.

Author to whom all correspondence should be addressed: E-mail: minkina@sfedu.ru

Minkina et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 13 (2014), 5, 1307-1315

2. Experimental design
2.1. Study area
The objects of current research are abandoned
plots of grasslands near Novocherkassk power station
(NPS) in Rostov region (Russia). The latter is known
as a region of intensive agricultural production and
industrial centre.
The enterprises of mining and manufacturing
industry, power engineering, metallurgy are basic
sources for heavy metal contamination of the
environment. Novocherkassk power station is one of
the largest stations in Russia to be a source of
pollutant discharges not only in Novocherkassk but
also in the entire region.
The main components of the NPS emissions
are ash, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. The
atmospheric emissions contain soot (more than 30
t/year), vanadium pentoxide (about 8 t/year), iron
oxides (more than 5 t/year), chromic anhydride
(about 0.1 t/year), Mn dioxide (about 0.15 t/year), Ni
oxide (1.5 kg/year), and hydrogen fluoride (7
kg/year) (Ecological Herald of the Don Region,
2011; Ecology of Novocherkassk , 2001). More
than half of the bulk of the Se and Cs pollution; more
than 75% V, Mn, Ba, Cd, Hg, and Pb; and almost all
the Mo and Se come to the atmosphere with aerosols
in the NPS emissions.
The concentrations of Mn and Ni in the city
air exceed the allowable levels of these metals
(Minkina et al., 2009; Minkina et al., 2010). Ten
monitoring plots were prepared from the NPS (1.0
20.0 km) and were associated with the plots of the
synchronous air sampling (Fig. 1).
A relatively greater number of plots were
arranged in the main direction from the NPS
according to the prevailing wind direction to the
northwest of the pollution source through the
residential areas of the city of Novocherkassk (plots
4, 5, 8, 9 and 10) (Minkina et al., 2013).
2.2. Sampling and analysis of soils
The soil of the monitoring plots mostly
composed of ordinary chernozems. Plot 2 is occupied
by an alluvial meadow sandy soil, and plot 3, which
is situated on the floodplain only 300 m away from
plot 2, by a light clay meadow-chernozemic soil. The
soils in plots 6 and 8 are heavy loamy meadowchernozemic ones. Every year soil samples (15 piece
in each plot) were taken from the depth of 020 cm
for studying the soil properties and the concentrations
of the HM compounds. Soil was homogenized, air
dried, and passed through a 1 mm sieve.
Soil properties were analyzed using Russian
standard methods (Agrochemical methods, 1975).
Soil organic carbon was measured using 0.4 N
potassium bichromate (the Tyurin method modified
by Simakov). Soil particle size distribution (silt, clay
and physical clay content) was determined by the
pipette method after the pyrophosphate treatment.

1308

Cation exchange capacity (CEC) of the soil was

determined using 1M ammonium chloride (the
BobkoAskinazi method).
The exchangeable potassium was determined
by the Machigin (molybdenum blue) method. The
ammonia nitrogen was analyzed by the colorimetric
method with Nessler reagent. Soil pH was measured
with a pH electrode using a 1:5 suspension of a soil
to water ratio. Exchangeable calcium and magnesium
were measured by the titration at pH 12.5-13.0 and
10.0 respectively. Carbonates were measured by the
Kudrin method using 0.005 NH2SO4 and then an
excess of the acid was titrated with alkali.
The soil reaction was slightly alkaline (pH
7.37.7), and the carbonate concentrations made up
0.21.1% (Table 1). The studied soils differed in
their particle-size composition. The chernozems and
meadow chernozemic soils developed on loess-like
loams were heavy loamy, and the alluvial meadow
soil on alluvial deposits had a light texture.
The light clayey meadow chernozemic soil on
the alluvial deposits had maximal contents of
physical clay and clay (as sum of silt < 1 m and dust
1-10 m). The content of humus ranged between 4.1
to 5.1 % except for the alluvial meadow calcareous
sandy soil (3.1%) and characterized by low a CEC 10
mmol (+) / 100 g soil.
Every year for analyze 15 average plant
samples were taken from each plot. Vegetative part
of such plants as Elytrigia repens, Artemisia
austriaca, Achillea millefolium, Tanacetum vulgare,
Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Cichorium intybus was
under the study. Since 2000 the soil and plant
sampling has being taken annual in the second half of
June in the period of the active plant growth and
development.
General analytical procedures
The total contents of Ni, Mn, Cd, Cu, Zn and
Pb in the soils were determined by X-ray fluorescent
scanning spectrometer "SPECTROSCAN MAKCGV". The HM compounds classified as loosely
bound were transferred to solution by means of
parallel extractions using the following reagents
(Minkina et al., 2008b; Minkina et al., 2008c):
1) 1 N ammonium acetate buffer (NH4Ac) pH 4.8
(soil : solution ratio 1:10, extraction time 18 h)
capable of solubilizing the exchangeable forms of
metals characterizing their actual mobility.
2) 1% EDTA solution in NH4Ac with pH 4.8
(soil : solution ratio 1 : 10, extraction time 18 h),
which supposedly solubilizes the relatively unstable
complex compounds of metals together with their
exchangeable forms.
The concentrations of the metals in the complex
compounds were calculated by the difference
between the metal concentrations in EDTA and
NH4Ac extracts.
3) The acid soluble metal compounds extracted
with 1 N HCl (soil : solution ratio 1 : 10, extraction
time 1 h) characterize the reserve of the mobile metal
compounds in the soil.

Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in plants within the technogenesis zone

They are supposedly represented by the metal

ions capable of exchange and by the specifically
absorbed compounds including the Fe and Mn
retained by the amorphous oxides and carbonates.
The amount of specifically absorbed metal
compounds was calculated by the difference between
the metal concentrations in the HCl and NH4Ac
extracts. The exchangeable, the complex and the
specifically sorbed fractions represented a group of
loosely bound ones to be the most important from
ecological viewpoint and capable to enter adjacent
areas and the plants in particular.
Heavy metals in vegetative part of the plants
were prepared for analyzing by dry combustion at
450C, the rest was dissolved by an acid mixture
(HNO3+HCl) according to the methodological
guidelines on determination of heavy metals in
agricultural soils and crop produce (TsINAO, 1992).
The content of heavy metals in extracts from
soils and plants was determined by atomic absorption
spectrophotometer Buck Scientific 200 A. The plants
reveal tolerance to contaminants as well. One of the
resistance mechanisms is a limited input of heavy
metals to the vegetative part of plants, the
reproductive organs in particular. The physiological
sense of this phenomenon consists probably in
reducing the metal content in those plant parts that
display an active biosynthesis. In order to study
heavy metal accumulation, different indices are used.
The Bioconcentration factor (BCF) is an index of the
accumulation degree of chemical elements in plants.
It is calculated based upon the ratio between the
content of any element in plant or in its organ and the
total content in soil (Kovalevskiy, 1991).

This coefficient allows judging about the

biophylity extent of chemical elements. The
Translocation factor (TF) is an objective criterion to
assess the quantity of metals transferred from soil to
plants. It is calculated as a ratio between the metal
content in plant mass and the content of its mobile
compounds in soil, because the latter are most
available for plants (Bruks, 1996).
3. Results and discussion
To obtain a clearly expressed picture about
the environmental situation at the territory within the
influence zone of the power station, it was necessary
to determine the available relationship in distribution
of heavy metals in soils and plants at the studied
monitoring plots. The characteristics of the state and
behavior of HM in soil are summarized in Table 2.
Their total content at plots 9 and 10 located
far from the power station does not exceed the
maximum permissible concentration (MPC). The
background content of Pb accounting for 28 mg kg-1
is in soil at the plot 9, while the plot 10 located in
500 m far from a motor highway is contaminated
with Pb largely. The loosely bound compounds of
metals were dominated by the least mobile
specifically absorbed forms in the uncontaminated
soils. This is well agrees with their average content in
grass plants of the given region (Table 3).
The average Ni content in plants ranges
between 0.1 and 5.0 mg kg-1 dry mass, being varied
from 1.3 to 1.5 mg kg-1 in wild grasses and 0.47 to
1.99 mg kg-1 in cultural ones.

Fig. 1. Schematic map of the allocation of the monitoring plots in the impact zone of the NPS. The direction and distance of the
plots from the NPS: (1) 1 km to the NE; (2) 3 km to the SW; (3) 2.7 km to the SW; (4) 1.6 km to the NW; (5) 1.2 km to the NW;
(6) 2.0 km to the NNW; (7) 1.5 km to the N; (8) 5 km to the NW; (9) 15 km to the NW; (10) 20 km to the NW

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Minkina et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 13 (2014), 5, 1307-1315

Table 1. Physical and chemical properties of the soil in the territories adjacent to the NPS

Plot number, soil

1.
Medium-deep calcareous low-humus heavy
loamy ordinary chernozem on loess-like loam
2.
Calcareous low-humus sandy meadow
alluvial soil on alluvium
3.
Low-humus
light
clayey
meadowchernozemic soil on alluvial deposits
4.
Medium-deep calcareous low-humus heavy
loamy ordinary chernozem on loess-like loam
5.
Medium-deep calcareous low-humus heavy
loamy ordinary chernozem on loess-like loam
6.
Medium-deep low-humus heavy loamy
meadow-chernozemic soil on loess-like loam
7.
Medium-deep calcareous low-humus heavy
loamy ordinary chernozem on loess-like loam
8.
Medium-deep low-humus heavy loamy
meadow-chernozemic soil on loess-like loam
9.
Medium-deep calcareous low-humus heavy
loamy ordinary chernozem on loess-like loam
10. Medium-deep calcareous low-humus heavy
loamy ordinary chernozem on loess-like loam

mg/100g

Ca2++
Mg2+,
mmol
(+)/
100g

,
mmol
(+)/
100g

3.6

39

32

36

2.4

1.5

21

11

10

0.2

2.0

4.5

35

40

42

7.5

0.7

2.9

4.0

31

31

33

4.2

7.5

1.1

2.5

3.0

37

34

38

34.9

4.2

7.7

0.7

3.6

3.3

35

30

34

53.7

30.3

4.1

7.6

0.7

2.9

2.6

49

31

33

60.0

32.4

5.1

7.4

0.5

2.0

4.3

33

44

48

54.3

31.8

4.2

7.6

0.6

2.0

3.7

32

32

33

55.1

30.0

4.5

7.6

0.5

3.9

3.8

41

34

37

lay
(<10
m),,
%

Silt
(<1
m),
%

Humus,
%

52.3

29.6

5.9

P2O5,

K2O,

pH

CaCO3,
%

NH4+
mg/100g

mg/100g

4.3

7.6

0.5

2.7

2.9

3.1

7.5

0.4

63.4

36.8

4.6

7.3

55.3

30.9

4.6

56.3

30.8

58.8

Table 2. Total content and content of loosely bound compounds of HM in soil of monitoring plots, mg/kg
Plot number; distance (km) and
direction from the NPS
1.
1.0 NE
2.
3.0 SW
3.
2.7 SW
4.
1.6 NW
5.
1.2 NW
6.
2.0 NNW
7.
1.5 N
8.
5.0 NW
9.
15.0 NW
10. 20.0 NW
MPC (TsINAO, 1992)
Plot number; distance (km) and
direction from the NPS
1.
1.0 NE
2.
3.0 SW
3.
2.7 SW
4.
1.6 NW
5.
1.2 NW
6.
2.0 NNW
7.
1.5 N
8.
5.0 NW
9.
15.0 NW
10. 20.0 NW

Mn
905
607
647
931
894
932
864
731
676
748
1500

Zn
105
79
100
111
141
116
92
116
82
77
100

38
14
27
47
46
49
38
20
6
6

3.7
1.0
4.5
3.7
3.0
1.9
1.5
3.3
1.1
0.8

Total content
Ni
Cu
58
50
37
44
50
54
65
73
65
63
59
59
55
42
56
60
41
41
40
41
85.0
55.0

Pb
42
21
30
67
60
59
33
43
28
37
32

Cd
0.6
0.6
0.5
1.0
1.3
1.1
0.6
0.6
0.3
0.3
0.5

Mn
23
30
19
63
69
52
31
23
13
11
700

2.8
0.3
1.3
3.4
4.4
4.4
1.9
2.8
0.4
2.5

0.01
0.01
0.01
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.00
0.00

166
116
110
231
255
202
142
122
75
61

Complex compounds
1.6
0.8
1.3
2.7
3.0
2.0
1.8
1.5
0.2
0.4

2.3
1.5
1.6
5.0
5.6
4.4
2.0
4.3
0.7
0.9

Exchangeable compounds
Zn
Ni
Cu
Pb
10.8
2.2
2.4
3.5
11.6
1.7
3.7
2.3
4.7
1.4
1.9
1.8
16.5
3.5
4.7
6.7
25.0
3.5
3.5
6.4
13.0
2.7
4.0
4.7
5.6
1.6
1.2
3.4
14.0
1.5
3.2
3.0
2.1
0.7
1.0
1.0
1.4
0.9
0.7
3.1
23
4.0
3.0
6.0

Cd
0.03
0.03
0.02
0.17
0.19
0.15
0.04
0.02
0.01
0.01
0.05

Specifically sorbed compounds

29
19
21
25
32
30
17
23
8
7

12.7
10.0
9.2
18.3
18.3
16.8
10.3
9.9
3.5
4.2

9.9
6.3
6.3
15.3
13.5
12.7
7.5
11.9
5.8
3.9

8.4
2.5
4.0
11.8
14.4
12.6
7.3
5.2
3.6
6.6

0.21
0.19
0.17
0.37
0.40
0.36
0.25
0.14
0.02
0.03

Table 3. The heavy metal content in natural grass vegetation at monitoring plots, mg/kg
Plot number; distance (km) and direction
from the NPS
1.
1.0 NE
2.
3.0 SW
3.
2.7 SW
4.
1.6 NW
5.
1.2 NW
6.
2.0 NNW
7.
1.5 N
8.
5.0 NW
9.
15.0 NW
10. 20.0 NW
MPC (TsINAO, 1992)

1310

Ni

Mn

Cd

Zn

Cu

Pb

3.0
3.2
2.4
3.2
4.4
3.2
2.9
2.3
1.7
1.5
3.0

36.8
42.0
35.2
52.6
58.0
39.9
60.2
28.8
33.2
32.3
-

0.8
0.5
0.2
1.3
1.2
0.4
0.5
0.3
0.2
0.2
0.3

43.9
47.6
31.6
79.6
64.2
34.4
43.4
53.5
27.6
25.7
50.0

6.9
11.1
4.3
10.9
14.5
11.0
6.4
8.1
6.4
3.4
30.0

8.2
4.3
5.6
13.8
11.2
7.6
5.5
4.2
4.2
12.0
5.0

Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in plants within the technogenesis zone

The total Ni content in plants varies in the

range of 0.8-4.0 mg kg-1 at the entire territory of the
region (Minkina et al., 2012b).

Fig. 2. The heavy metal content in natural grass vegetation

at monitoring plots located along the line of wind rose

The total content of heavy metals are

increased on the surface of soils within 5 km from
the source of contamination along the main wind
direction mainly (plots 4, 5, 6, 8). The amount of
loosely bound compounds increases as well. The
total content of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd and the content of
their exchangeable compounds exceed MPS in these
soils (TsINAO, 1992).The plants at the plots located
near the power station (within 5 km from the source)
are contaminated with Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb, thus
exceeding MPC in the vegetative part of plants
(Table 3, Fig. 2).
It is worth to emphasize that the plants at the
plot 10 located in a distance of 20 km from the power
station but near the motor highway, reveal an
increased content of Pb by 3 times as compared to
those grown at the plot 9. It exceeds the
concentration of this metal allowed in plants by 2.4
times. The content of HM in plants decreases in the
following way: Zn > Mn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Cd. Over
13 years of monitoring the studied heavy metals
display identical regularities in their accumulation in
plants (Fig. 3). The plant samples collected in 2008
revealed a decrease in concentration due to some
modernizing the equipment and reducing harmful
discharges. The Pb, Ni and Cd content as the most
dangerous pollutants was also declined within 20102011.
The HM accumulation by plants is affected by
soil properties (Table 4). The concentration of Cd,
Ni, Mn, Zn and Cu in plants grown on the meadowchernozem soil (plot 3) is lower by 1.2-2.6 times than
that on alluvial meadow sand soil (plot 2)
characterized by insignificant buffering capacity to
heavy metals. The input of heavy metals to plants can
occur through atmospheric deposition of gas and dust
accumulating in plant leaves and stems as well as
through the sorption from soil due to increasing the
metal compounds in it (Hosseini, 2013; Mineev et al.,
1981).
The question about the ways of HM input to
plants is open to discussion what is connected with

methodical difficulties in distinguishing the root and

foliage absorption of these elements.
The majority of researchers have an opinion
that the soil is a basic source for input of heavy
metals to plants (Ilin, 2007; Hala et al., 2002;
Mineev et al., 1981). The water soluble and
exchangeable compounds of heavy metals are
capable to penetrate into plants through their root
system (Liphadzi and Kirkham, 2006) but through
vegetative organs - metal compounds precipitated on
plant leaves from atmospheric deposition and
aerosols containing different compounds including
adsorbed by dust particles.
The content of HM compounds detected in
experimental extracts permits to judge about the
factual and promising supply of plants with elements.
The correlation analysis shows a positive valuable
relationship between the heavy metal concentration
in vegetation and in soils of monitoring plots (Table
4). The HM accumulation in plants is strongly
associated with the amount of their exchangeable
compounds. A relationship between the total content
of mobile forms considered as slightly bound
compounds in soils and their amount in plants serves
as evidence that the grass plants reveal their
availability to all the mobile compounds in soil
including exchangeable, complex and specifically
sorbed ones.
Thus, the absorption of heavy metals by plants
is highly dependent on technogenic loads and soil
properties. With increasing the concentration of
heavy metals in soil their accumulation is also
increasing in plants (Fig. 2). In plants, the
accumulation degree of heavy metals decreases with
increasing the distance from the contamination
source.
The most informative characteristics are
obtained in the case of different HM concentrations
in plants grown under conditions of minimum and
maximum effects exerted by atmospheric emission.
Such differences for seven studied heavy metals are
the following:
Cd (by the 7 times) > Cu (by the 4 times) > Ni, Zn,
Pb (by the 3 times) > Mn (by the 2 times)
With decreasing the distance from the
emission source the content of some metals increases
in plants to a lesser extent than that of mobile forms
in soil. If the Cd concentration in plants is increasing
by 7 times, the content of its slightly bound
compounds increases in soil by 21 times. As regards
the other heavy metals, the same regularity is
observed. The increased amount of Ni, Zn, Pb and
Mn in plants (by 2-3 times) was not so significant as
compared to increasing the content of their slightly
bound compounds in soil (by 4-7 times). The plants
have definite protective functions to these pollutants.
However, the Cu content in plants and the amount of
its slightly bound compounds in soil reveal an
identical increase.

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Minkina et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 13 (2014), 5, 1307-1315

Fig. 3. The long-term dynamics of the heavy metal content in plants at the monitoring plot 4
(1.6 km in the northwest from power station)
Table 4. Correlation coefficients between the heavy metal content in plants and in soils (n=9)
Heavy metals compounds

Ni

Mn

Cd

Zn

Cu

Pb

Total content
Exchangeable compounds
Complex compounds
Specifically sorbed
compounds
Loosely bound compounds

0.70.3
0.90.2
0.80.2

0.50.1
0.70.3
0.60.3

0.60.2
0.90.17
0.70.3

0.70.3
0.70.2
0.50.2

0.60.2
0.80.2
0.70.3

0.70.3
0.80.2
0.70.3

0.90.2

0.70.3

0.80.2

0.60.3

0.70.3

0.70.3

0.90.2

0.70.3

0.90.2

0.80.2

0.70.2

0.70.3

The chemical composition of plants is partially

dependent on soils (Kidd et al., 2007; Kirkham, 2006)
because the plants absorb elements in required
amounts according to their physiological and
biochemical properties. The wild plants in
comparison with cultural ones are capable to
accumulate a higher amount of heavy metals being
more resistant to pollutants. That is why the natural
vegetation can be adapted to every external factor.
Evaluation of plant resistance to heavy metals
is connected with solving some problems including
their quality standards as thresholds of maximum
concentration in soils and plants. The quality of soils
and plants evaluated by values of MPC can be quite
different. For instance, the Zn content in plants is the
highest at the monitoring plots 4 (80 mg kg-1), what
exceeds MPC by 1.6 times. The amount of its
exchangeable compounds in soil is estimated as 16.5
mg kg-1 being lower than MPC by 1.4 times. The
same situation is observed for Ni, the increased
content of its exchangeable forms is not fixed in the
studied soils but the content in plants at some plots

1312

seems higher than MPC. In the case of Cu, the plants

are not contaminated with this metal at the studied
territory, but the content of its mobile forms in soils is
exceeding the maximum allowable limit at some
monitoring plots. Thus, there is necessary to develop
the thresholds of heavy metal concentration in soils
taking into complete account their regional peculiar
features. To establish an adequate MPC value of
chemical elements in soils, it is very important to
account for the soil buffering capacity to these
elements and their influence on the plant quality (Ilin
et al., 2000; Miroshnichenko et al., 2003). This
approach allows characterizing adequately the
processes of HM migration and accumulation in
landscapes.
Evaluation of the plant quality is closely
associated with the assessment of physiologicalgenetic mechanisms responsible for plant resistance
to heavy metals. A relative resistance of plants to
metal accumulation is demonstrated in Fig. 4, where
the metal content in soils and in plants is given in
coordinates representing a concentration field of

Accumulation and distribution of heavy metals in plants within the technogenesis zone

content in plant and that one in soil indicates the type

of heavy metal accumulation by plant.
The natural vegetation displays different types
of heavy metal absorption. An accumulative type is
inherent to Zn and Cu absorption; Cd and Pb are
absorbed by plants according to an indicative type
(Baker, 1981; Kabata-Pendias, 2004; Prasad and
Hagemeyer, 1999). In the case of indicative type the
HM input to plants occurs without barrier, it is
directly proportional to its content in soil.
Different heavy metals have a different toxic
effect on plants. An exception is the Cd absorption by
plants at the plot 4 suffered from a higher technogenic
load (Table 5). Under these conditions, Cd acted as an
element of active accumulation by plants. According
to BCF value, the studied heavy metals may be shown
in the following way: Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Mn > Ni.

points and their averaged line (Fig. 4). The more is

deviated trend of concentration field, the greater is the
barrier capability of plants to the heavy metal
(Kovalevskiy, 1991). The toxic effect of heavy metal
on plants becomes lower due to the soil barrier
capacity (Andreeva and Govoriga, 2008).
The latter was evaluated in this study only for
heavy metals, which were present in soil of the
studied plots. As seen from Fig. 4, there is a barrier
type of Zn, Cu and Cd accumulation in plants at their
maximum concentration. The barrier capacity of
plants was studied in a pot experiment with barley
(Minkina et al., 2008a). The barley revealed
sensibility to Zn even at low concentration in soil,
accumulating it in straw to a greater extent than in
grain. The relationship between the heavy metal

Fig. 4. Concentration dependence of HM content in the soil-plant system:

a - under Zn pollution, b - under Cu pollution, c - under Pb pollution, d - under Cd pollution
Table 5. Bioconcentration factor and translocation factor of Ni, Mn, Cd, Zn, Cu, and Pb
affecting natural grass vegetation at monitoring plots
Plot number; distance
(km) and direction from
the NPS
1.
1.0 NE
2.
3.0 SW
3.
2.7 SW
4.
1.6 NW
5.
1.2 NW
6.
2.0 NNW
7.
1.5 N
8.
5.0 NW
9.
15.0 NW
10. 20.0 NW

Bioconcentration factor

The Translocation factor

Mn

Zn

Ni

Cu

Pb

Cd

Mn

Zn

Ni

Cu

Pb

Cd

0.04
0.07
0.05
0.06
0.06
0.04
0.07
0.04
0.05
0.04

0.42
0.60
0.32
0.72
0.46
0.30
0.47
0.46
0.34
0.33

0.05
0.09
0.05
0.05
0.07
0.05
0.05
0.04
0.04
0.04

0.14
0.25
0.08
0.15
0.23
0.19
0.15
0.14
0.16
0.08

0.20
0.20
0.19
0.21
0.19
0.13
0.17
0.10
0.15
0.32

1.33
0.83
0.40
1.30
0.92
0.36
0.83
0.50
0.67
0.67

0.16
0.26
0.23
0.15
0.16
0.13
0.29
0.17
0.35
0.41

1.01
1.51
1.05
1.76
1.07
0.77
1.80
1.33
2.46
2.79

0.18
0.26
0.20
0.13
0.18
0.15
0.21
0.18
0.39
0.27

0.47
0.97
0.44
0.44
0.64
0.52
0.60
0.42
0.85
0.62

0.56
0.84
0.79
0.63
0.44
0.35
0.44
0.38
0.84
0.98

3.20
2.17
1.00
2.28
1.94
0.75
1.67
1.76
6.67
5.00

1313

Minkina et al./Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 13 (2014), 5, 1307-1315

At the plots located near the power station, the

accumulation of pollutants by grass vegetation is
more intensive (Table 4). With increasing the HM
content in soil the BCF of plants is increasing by
several times: Cu (by 2.9) > Zn (2.2) > Ni (1.75) >
Mn (1.5) > Cd, Pb (1.4).
The plants on an alluvial sand soil (plot 2)
reveal the highest accumulation of heavy metals, due
to the low soil buffering capacity. The BCF values of
heavy metals are by 1.5 - 2 times higher in these soils
as compared to the adjacent light-loamy soil.
The TF index may be considered as the most
objective criterion for the HM amount translocated
from soil to plant. It can be also used as a
quantitative way to study the protective function of
the soil-plant system, because it is characteristic of
changes in mobility of heavy metals as well as the
plant response to the soil contamination (Minkina et
al., 2012a). In calculating, the TF value one should
evaluate the amount of mobile compounds in soil by
using ammonium acetate buffer extract (pH 4.8) or
another extract identical according to its effects on
soil. However, it makes difficult comparison of
results obtained to study the biological absorption of
heavy metals by plants growing on soils with acidic
and neutral pH.
According to Perelomov and Pinskiy (2003),
the total content of two fractions (exchangeable and
extracted by sodium acetate, pH 5.0) was taken to
calculate the ratio between the Zn amount in plants
and the contents of its mobile forms in soil. To obtain
the most complete information, it is suggested to
calculate TF using the content of slightly bound
compound in soil (Table 5). In the present study, Cd
exhibits the highest TF values whereas Mn has the
lowest ones. This index shows a decrease in the case
of soil contamination due to the protective reaction of
plants to the abundant amount of heavy metals in
soil. This decrease is especially marked for Zn and
Cd what is probably conditioned by differences in the
biochemical role of metals in plants and ways for
their absorption and translocation.
The studied heavy metals take part in the
formation of the soil-plant system stability to
contamination in the following way: Cd > Zn >> Pb
> Cu > Mn > Ni. Thus, it is advisable to evaluate an
environmental risk in the soil-plant system taking
into account not only the total HM content in soils
but also the amount of their slightly bound
compounds. It is worth emphasizing that there is no
clearly expressed regularity in BCF and TF changes
depending on the level of technogenic loads.
Probably, the metal compounds adsorbed
from the polluted atmosphere play an important role
in accumulation of these metals by the terrestrial
organs of the vegetation.
4. Conclusions
Aerosol emissions from the NPS influence
HM accumulation in grass plants.

1314

Pollution of grass plants by Ni, Cd, Zn and

Pb and accumulation of Mn and Cu in them are
observed at monitoring plots located near the power
station. This accumulation becomes higher in sand
soils characterized by a lower buffering capacity. In
the contaminated areas around the power station the
soil-plant system reveals the protection mechanisms
to Cu and Zn, such barriers are absent for Cd and Pb.
The translocation factor in contaminated
soils calculated based on the M content of loosely
bound compounds in soil serves as evidence of
protective possibilities of the soil-plant system.
Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for
Basic Research, projects no. 14-05-00586_, 12-05-33078;
the President of Russia, project no. -6448.2014.4; the
Leading scientific school, projects no. 2449.2014.4, the
Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, projects no.
885.

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