Farklı bitki türlerinin ağır metal içerikleri üzerine taş ocaklarının etkisinin değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Environmental pollution is the greatest threat facing humanity and is recognised as the leading cause of disease and death. Anthropogenic practices such as quarrying and mining activities can alter the structure and functioning of the plant community. In this study, the effects of active and passive quarry stations on heavy metal contents of herbaceous and woody plant species were investigated. Chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and manganese (Mn) contents in herbaceous (Juncus effusus subsp. effusus) and woody (Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata) plant samples were analysed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to reveal the environmental impacts of quarry mining. Significant differences were detected at the P < 0.01 level in Cr, Fe, Cu, As, Pb and Mn contents and at the P < 0.05 level in Ni contents of Juncus effusus subsp. effusus and Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata and the highest heavy metal contents, except for Mn were found in Alnus glutinosa subsp. barbata. The lowest and highest heavy metal concentrations were determined in washed and unwashed samples, respectively. While high concentrations of heavy metals were found in plant samples taken from the active quarry station, the lowest concentrations were found in samples taken from clean areas. It was concluded that Cu, Mn, Fe and Zn concentrations were above the maximum permissible limits stated in the literature, plants were affected by actively operating quarries and heavy metal accumulation occurred on plant surfaces over time.