Phytoremediation of soils polluted with heavy metals in the vicinity of the Zenica steel mill in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Potential for using native flora

Authors

  • Senad Murtić Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Hamdija Čivić Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Emina Sijahović Department of Plant Nutrition, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Ćerima Zahirović Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Emir Šahinović Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Adnana Podrug Department of Plant Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 8, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2021.4

Keywords:

bioaccumulation factor, leaves, roots, soil properties

Abstract

This study investigates levels of soil pollution and estimates the phytoremediation potential of 7 native plants growing close to the Zenica steel mill. Plant leaves or roots and associated soil samples were collected from this site and characterized in terms of the concentrations of the heavy metals Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu and Ni. Heavy metal concentrations in soil and plant samples were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Bioaccumulation factors for heavy metals were also calculated. All plants studied had a low ability to remove or stabilize heavy metals in soil. This was probably associated with the poor mobility and thus poor availability of heavy metals to the plants growing in the vicinity of this steel mill.

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Published

2021-06-20

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Articles