The influence of soil microorganisms on heavy metal content in the substrate of waste rock dumps

Abstract

The environmental effects of mining and its impact on natural resources are of a holistic nature. One of the modern methods employed for the remediation of technogenically disturbed soils is the application of microorganisms. This paper studies the impact made by soil microorganisms on the accumulation rate of heavy metals in the substrate of waste rock dumps in the process of soil reclamation. Suspensions of soil microorganisms (microorganisms utilising mineral nitrogen forms / MUMN; microorganisms decomposing silicates / MDS; microscopic fungi / MF) were applied to the rock dump surface. Separate groups as well as their combinations were applied. The heavy metal content analysis did not indicate a significant exceedance of the maximum allowable concentration limits (MACL) in the soil of the waste rock. The only metal whose content exceeded the maximum admissible concentration limits was nickel. It has found that the application of microorganisms influences the concentration of several heavy metals due to pH level changes of the rock dump soil.