Impact of Manganese, Nickel and Zinc Distribution from Lignite Fuels on Cultivated and Non- Cultivated Plants

Abstract

Manganese, nickel and zinc were determined in soils and 4 plants (2 cultivated: Brassica oleracea, Zea maysand 2 non cultivated: Rumex acetosa, Verbascum phlomoides) around the Coal Power Plant (CPP) - Agios Dimitrios, thelargest CPP in Greece. In general, roots showed a higher metal content compared to the other over ground parts. This ismore prominent in Brassica oleracea for all studied metals except zinc, where the highest zinc concentration is found inthe sclerechyma (central vein) of the internal leaf. Thus, Brassica oleracea meets the objectives of phytoremediartion oflands contaminated by heavy metals. Periodically planting of Brassica oleracea could reduce the level of heavy metals inthe area in order to clean up and prepare soils for other cultivations. The most contaminated leaves revealed a variationin epidermis roughness. In Verbascum phlomoides the multicellular, multilevel hairs on the leaf surface fixed aconsiderable number of air particles effectively. In contrast, the waxy cuticle of Rumex acetosa, enabled the fast rinsingof the air particles by rainwater and wind. The aim of the present study is also to highlight the differences in the ability ofvarious plant organs or tissues to accumulate heavy metals, using cultivated (crops) and non-cultivated (native) plansfound around the coal power plant. Pollution monitoring, especially by crops, may provide useful information for thedesign of monitoring networks that can facilitate the determination and intercomparison of metals around CPPsinternationally.