Effect of Mining Activity in Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Soil and Plant (Urtica dioica L)

Abstract

Contamination of soil and water by various heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Fe is increasing day by day as a result of different activities, such as industrialization and urbanization. Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), and Nickel (Ni) is an example of potential heavy metal that is neither an essential element nor have any role in the process of cell metabolism but is easily absorbed and accumulated in different parts of a plant and living beings. This study was to investigate translocation and bioaccumulation of heavy metals such as Pb, Ni, Cd, Cu, and Fe in Urtica dionica L and soil samples from 2 sites (unpolluted – Koliq and polluted – Kishnica in the Republic of Kosovo). Results revealed that in the contaminated site, the mean level of all the metals in soil and different parts (root, stalk, and leaf) of the plant were found to be significantly (p 1). However, these concentrations of heavy metals in the soil and Urtica dionica L were higher than levels specified according to UK and Germany standards.

Keywords

• soil
• heavy metals
• bioaccumulation
• translocation factor