Research regarding heavy metals concentrations in wild flora growing on a contaminated soil in Serbia (Borski Mining Area)

Abstract

Heavy metal toxicity has become a large concern for Serbia, due to the contamination of soil and water streams from Borski Mining Area. Plants and the associated soil samples collected from polluted and unpolluted sites, from Borski Mining Area, were analyzed for Cu and Zn, using a simultaneous inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometer produced by Spectro model Ciros Vision. The selected native plants were Tussilago farfara L., Calamagrostis epigejos (L.) Roth., Phragmites australis (Cav.) Steud., Urtica dioica L., Petasites hybridus (L.) P. Gaertn., B. Mey et Scherb., Sambucus nigra L., Typha latifolia L., Salix cinerea L., Juncus effusus L., and Mentha longifolia L. Bioconcentration Factor (BCF) showed that Petasites hybridus, Tussilago farfara, Urtica dioica and Mentha longifolia can be used for phytoremediation of contaminated soils.