Growth and mortality of nestling great tits (Parus major) and pied flycatchers (Ficedula hypoleuca) in a heavy metal pollution gradient

We studied nestling growth, growth abnormalities, mortality and breeding success of two hole-nesting passerines, the great tit (Parus major) and the pied fly-catcher (Ficedula hypoleuca), at 14 study sites around a copper smelter complex in Harjavalta, south-west Finland in 1991–1993. The main pollutants in the area are heavy metals and sulphuric oxides. Exposure of birds to heavy metals was shown by measuring their faecal concentrations. Copper, nickel and lead contents of nestling faeces were high near the factory and decreased with distance away from the pollution source. F. hypoleuca nestlings suffered high mortality very close to the factory complex, but did relatively well at all other sites. Breeding success of P. major was below background levels up to 3–4 km from the pollution source and nestlings grew poorly close to the factory. Growth abnormalities of legs and wings in F. hypoleuca nestlings were significantly more common near the factory than farther away. In contrast, F. hypoleuca nestlings grew equally well at all distances. The poor breeding success of F. hypoleuca close to the factory complex is probably related to the high amount of heavy metals in its diet, and low availability of calcium-rich food items may enhance this effect. We suggest that the poor breeding success of P. major is related to habitat changes that have taken place around the factory. The different responses of these two bird species are probably due to their different diet. Our results show convincingly that species-specific differences in response should be carefully considered when planning schemes for air pollution monitoring.     

Lichens as suitable indicators of the biological effects of atmospheric pollutants around a municipal solid waste incinerator (S Italy)

A comprehensive biomonitoring programme should integrate several methods distributed along the biomonitoring chain, allowing to detect exposure, threads and impacts. In the case of a municipal solid waste incinerator (MSWI), biomonitoring of air pollution can contribute to source attribution, detection of ongoing processes and assessment of environmental effects. Three different methods were used to assess the biological effects of air pollution around a MSWI using lichens as biomonitors: (1) lichen diversity; (2) bioaccumulation of trace elements; and (3) physiological status (photosynthetic efficiency, cell membrane damage, viability). The first method takes into account the native lichen flora, while the other two were applied to thalli of the lichen Evernia prunastri transplanted for 6 months in the study area. Lichen diversity and physiological parameters reflected the effects of air pollution around the incinerator and the surrounding industrial area. High frequencies of non-nitrophilous species corresponded to sites with higher environmental quality, while high frequencies of nitrophilous species corresponded to sites with higher level of eutrophication. Transplanted samples showed increased cell membrane damage and reduced vitality respect to control samples. Bioaccumulation of trace elements pointed at the atmospheric origin of Hg depositions in the area. These results suggest that an integrated use of lichen-based methods along the biomonitoring chain can provide useful biological outputs for decision-makers to establish correct sustainable waste management policies.     

Spectral reflectance and integrity of cell membranes and chlorophyll relative to the concentration of airborne mineral elements in a lichen

To determine the environmental impact of oil-combustion pollutants and soil dust on a lichen, we examined the spectral reflectance of thalli of the epiphytic fruticose lichen, Ramalina duriaei , expressed as values of NDVI (the normalized difference vegetation index). We analyzed electrolyte leakage caused by degradation of cell membranes in terms of electric conductivity of water, apart from chlorophyll degradation, the latter expressed as changes in the A435 nm/A415 nm ratio to indicate the physiological status of the lichen. The concentrations of Al, Cr, Fe, K, Ni, P, sulfate-S, Ti and V in the lichen thallus were measured to quantify the degree of pollution. Thalli of R. duriaei , growing in a nature reserve on the periphery of a 40-year-old industrial town, Ashdod, in southwest Israel were compared with thalli of R. duriaei from an unpolluted forest in the northeastern part of the country transplanted to the polluted areas in and around the town. After an exposure for 10 months, many transplants exhibited lower NDVI values, higher electric conductivity values as well as a lower A435 nm/A415 nm ratio. The three physical/physiological parameters thus reflected severe injury in the lichen transplants. The concentrations of Al, Cr, Fe, Ni, sulfate-S, Ti and V in the lichen transplants were found to correlate inversely with the NDVI values, whereas the concentrations of Fe, Ni, Ti and V were found to correlate with electric conductivity. The decrease in the A435 nm/A415 nm ratio was found to correlate with high concentrations of Al, Fe, Ni, sulfate-S, Ti and V in the lichen transplants, whereas the concentration of K and P correlated with both the NDVI value and the A435 nm/A415 nm ratio. It is concluded that in situ thalli of R. duriaei , the only indigenous fruticose lichen growing in the region of Ashdod, are endangered by the presence of pollutants and by acid rain due to the combustion of heavy fuel oil.     

上海世博会规划区不同土地利用方式下附属绿地的重金属分布

上海世博会规划区是工厂和居民区混杂的典型老城区.对其主要土地利用方式下附属绿地土壤的重金属进行调查分析.结果表明:部分样点的Ni、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd含量超标,Hg和As的含量均没有超标;大部分绿地土壤没有出现重金属的污染,其中清洁安全和尚清洁占了69.83%和6.94%,轻度污染、中度污染和重度污染的分别占了12.87%、2.56%和7.81%;周边利用类型不同的附属绿地土壤重金属含量差别很大,居民办公区的绿地土壤没有出现重金属污染,试剂溶剂类工厂局部有重金属污染,重金属污染主要集中在造船厂、机械厂、钢铁厂等重型工厂的附属绿地;利用类型不同绿地土壤重金属的相关性也不同,重金属的相关性基本与产生污染的土地利用类型一致;污染源的距离以及对污染源保护不当是导致绿地土壤重金属污染的主要因素,注意对污染源的集中堆置或采取隔离措施,能有效减少重金属对绿地的污染.     

中国拟扁枝衣属的研究

拟扁枝衣属Pseudevernia隶属于子囊菌门Ascomycota,茶渍目Lecanorales,梅衣科Parmeliaceae。迄今已知6种,即粉芽拟扁枝衣P.soralifera、细拟扁枝衣P.cladonia、粗拟扁枝衣P.intensa、茶渍拟扁枝衣P.consocians、橄榄陶拟扁枝衣P.olivetorina及拟扁枝衣P.furfuracea。后三种地衣之界定是在形态特征相似但仍有区别的前提下,以其各自所含次生代谢产物之不同与地理分布区之差异为根据的。茶渍拟扁枝衣含有茶渍酸;裂芽发育良好而密度中等;裂片狭窄,为北美所特有。橄榄陶拟扁枝衣含橄榄陶酸;裂芽较稀少;裂片狭长;分布区以北欧为主,延伸至北非及西亚,如巴基斯坦。而拟扁枝衣则含袋衣酸;形态多变;分布区以南欧洲为主,遍布于整个欧洲,向南延伸至北非,向东延伸至亚洲,如蒙古等。本文首次报道了该属地衣在中国的分布。文中除了对拟扁枝衣进行形态、化学及分布类型的描述外,还配有该种的照片以及该属已知种的检索表。     

Epiphytic lichens as biomonitors of airborne heavy metal pollution

The research aims to assess the performance of the lichen Parmotrema reticulatum as an air pollution biomonitor of four heavy metals, namely, chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn). Four contrasting land use sites within the greater Auckland region of New Zealand are used. One site is located within the relatively clean air shed of conservation land, the others within residential, commercial, and industrial areas, characterised by increasingly polluted air sheds, respectively. Three groups of lichens are monitored over a two-year period using active and passive biomonitoring methods to assess ‘on-thallus’ and ‘in-thallus’ concentrations of heavy metals. Seasonal transplants are used to quantify heavy metals accumulated by the lichen during each season. Long-term transplants are used to measure how fast lichens accumulate heavy metals and to better understand how and when heavy metals within the lichen thallus achieve equilibrium with air pollutant concentrations over time. The results show that the lichens continuously accumulates pollutants from the air until equilibrium is reached, thus transplanted lichens are useful for monitoring air pollution concentrations over time. Since pollutant concentration in the transplanted lichen at equilibrium stabilises, at this point the lichen ceases to be useful for monitoring temporal trends in air pollution, but may useful for spatial air pollution monitoring. The industrial location has the highest total accumulation for all four heavy metals, followed by the commercial and residential locations, respectively. Overall, the results show that the lichen P. reticulatum may be successfully used to monitor spatial and temporal pollution patterns caused by even very low concentrations of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn.     

中国树花对乌鲁木齐南郊空气污染生物指示的研究

目的：中国树花对乌鲁木齐南郊空气污染生物指示作用的探讨。方法：采用电感耦合等离子光谱直读法测定移植地衣内重金属含量的变化。结果：地衣体内被测定出的重金属元素种类和含量与移植时间的长短之间存在显著性差异。对照组中,中国树花体内仅测出2种元素,其中Fe和Mn的含量分别为1.2915±0.054μg.g-1和0.0261±0.001μg.g-1。移植1个月后测出Al、Fe、Mn、Zn等4种元素,其含量分别为0.68±0.036、0.706±0.086、0.021±0.016和0.061±0.005μg.g-1;移植3个月后测出Al、Cr、Cu、Fe、Mn、Ni、Zn等7种重金属,其含量分别为0.285±0.039、0.0032±0.001、0.004±0.002、0.499±0.133、0.106±0.015、0.011±0.01、0.011±0.01、0.038±0.002μg.g-1。结论：中国树花在生物评价乌鲁木齐南郊空气污染方面具有一定的研究价值。     

Production of phenolics by immobilized cells of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea: the role of epiphytic bacteria

Immobilized lichen cells from the thalli of the lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, supplied with acetate as the only source of carbon, continuously produced phenolic substances, atranorin and physodic acid, over 23 days. Epiphytic bacteria associated with the lichen thallus grew actively, probably using both acetate and reduced compounds supplied by lichen cells, since their active growth was avoided by including 10 microM 3,3'-dichlorophenyl-1,1'dimethylurea in the bath solution. Penicillin largely impeded the growth of epiphytic bacteria and decreased phenolic production, which was recovered only at the end of the experimental period, just when the bacteria started a slow, but active growth. We suggest the cooperation of epiphytic bacteria in the biosynthesis of both atranotrin and physodic acid.     

Content of heavy metals in thalli of the lichen <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hypogymnia physodes</Emphasis>: Sources of heterogeneity

Size and reproductive traits of thalli of the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes (L.) Nyl. and concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Cd, Zn, Pb) in them were determined in the region of the Middle Ural Copper Smelting Plant, in two contrast zones of atmospheric pollution. The nonuniformity of populations in both size and reproductive traits and metal concentration was demonstrated. A high heterogeneity of subpopulations growing on different phorophytes was revealed. It is recommended to optimize data collection by taking samples from a larger number of trees (20–30) at a smaller number of thalli (10–20) from one phorophyte.     

基于环境容量的汶川地震重建规划区环境适宜性评价

基于对四川汶川地震中受灾严重的51个县1271个乡镇的水环境容量估算,对不同地域的环境适宜性进行评价,旨在为震区恢复重建的人口、经济布局提供一定科学依据。水环境容量选择COD和NH3-N两个指标进行评价,首先利用降雨量、径流系数和径流深等参数评价单元的径流量,再根据水环境质量标准、水体自然背景值等参数估算环境容量;进而在水环境污染胁迫程度计算的基础上,进行了环境适宜性评价。结果显示：水环境容量区域性差异明显,北部三省交界区域的乡镇容量较高、东南部四川盆地边缘和内部区域的乡镇容量较高、西部的山区乡镇环境容量低;西南部污染胁迫程度较低,环境适宜性较高;西部自然保护区胁迫程度较大,环境适宜性较低;成都平原附近县域胁迫较大,环境适宜性较低;环境适宜性区域性明显,但也呈现出一定的分散性。     

Heavy metal analysis around Murgul (Artvin) copper mining area of Turkey using moss and soil

This research investigates heavy metal pollution around one of the most important mining areas in Turkey, the Murgul mining, by means of analyzing moss and soil samples collected in the neighborhood of the copper mining at different distances. Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry (Epsilon 5, PANalytical, Almelo, The Netherlands) is utilized in the experiments. The results have indicated that the both moss and soil samples contain Aluminum, Vanadium, Chromium, Manganese, Iron, Nickel, Copper, Zinc, Arsenic and Lead. The comparison of the heavy metal concentrations with the typical measurements in the world and with the limit values for the human health has revealed the critical heavy metal pollution levels in the region, where one of Turkey's first environmental spills was also observed. The possible consequences of these results are briefly discussed from the point of potential hazards to ecology and human health.     

杭州市六种常见绿化树种叶片累积空气重金属特征及与环境因子的相关性

该研究选取杭州市2个污染区常见的6种绿化树种叶片作为材料,以清洁区为对照,采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法,测定受试树种叶内及对应样点降尘、土壤中Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni和Zn的含量,分析叶片的吸污能力以及重金属含量与土壤、降尘的相关性。结果表明:(1)污染区树种重金属含量明显高于对照区,绿化树种对环境重金属污染物有一定的吸收能力,重金属含量在不同的树种中具有明显差异;所测树种叶内Zn含量最大,Pb次之,Cd最小,指示能力则以枸骨(Ilex cornuta)对Cd和Pb、圆柏(Juniperus chinensis)对Cu、茶花(Camellia japonica)对Ni、广玉兰(Magnolia grandiflora)对Zn为最强。(2)3个样点树种叶片与对应样点土壤、降尘中重金属元素含量的相关性分析和回归分析表明,叶片重金属含量与土壤重金属含量的相关性较小,而与降尘呈显著正相关。因此,绿化树种叶片作为空气重金属污染的累积器和监测器是科学合理的,且上述4种树种对杭州市空气中6种重金属污染的指示作用具有一定参考价值,可作为监测城市空气质量的特型树种。该研究结果为减少城市空气重金属污染提供了科学依据和理论支持。     

Plants genotoxicity as pollution bioindicator in Jordan using comet assay

This study aimed to assess genotoxicity in wild plants grown in Jordan as a pollution bioindicator. Comet assay was used to evaluate the level of DNA damage in plants collected from different areas in Jordan. Significant differences in plant DNA damage index and frequency were observed among sites of collection. Results show that plants collected from Aqaba back road and Ghour Assaal had significantly higher damage values. In contrast, plants collected from Wadi Rum, Al Naqab Heights, Swaimeh/Deadsea and Alshoneh Aljanobyeh showed low levels of DNA damage. A similar trend was observed for lipid peroxidation rates. Furthermore, heavy metal analysis showed that plants collected from Aqaba back road and Aqaba airport had the highest Al, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb contents. A significant correlation was observed between DNA Damage Index, DNA Damage Frequency, lipid peroxidation rate, soil Cu, Cd and Pb biomarkers, indicating that heavy metals pollution is a major source for genotoxicity in these plant species. Finally, our results approved the feasibility of using plants and Comet assay system as a diagnostic tool for pollution in any environment adversely affected by different pollution sources.     

Biomonitoring Atmospheric Heavy Metals with Lichens: Theory and Application

Recent records of environmental contamination noted a moderate decrease of SO2 pollution, whereas the burden of atmospheric heavy metals is still considerable. The present review refers to the entrapment, uptake, and accumulation of heavy metals by lichen thalli, made apparent by parameters of lichen vitality and stress. The particulate nature of airborne heavy metals is made evident by parameters referring to the entrapment of heavy-metal containing particles by lichen thalli. The mechanism of uptake of heavy metals, investigated by means of controlled experiments, refers to extracellular and intracellular uptake. The rate of absorption and the accumulation of heavy metals is dependent on morphological features of lichen thalli in addition to kind and intensity of emission sources and to nonanthropogenic factors such as climate and topography. The role of lichens as biomonitors is demonstrated by the case of lead. In contrast to data obtained by retrospective studies, using lichens as biomonitors of heavy metal pollution, performed in the 1970s, which indicated an increase of Pb as a result of the massive use of leaded gasoline, the subsequent disuse of this additive led to a decrease detected in later studies. The disparity of emission sources is illustrated by the case of Hg. Mercury is a product of anthropogenic activity in addition to its natural derivation. The dominance of the anthropogenic factors is made obvious by high levels of Hg recorded near chlor alkali plants and other industrial sites. The role of the substrate in the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals was investigated to detect its relative share. Airborne metals were, however, determinant factors in the metal content of lichen thalli. The interaction of contaminants and biomonitors has a definite physiological impact on the vitality of the biomonitors. Physiological processes of disintegration investigated in this context are degradation of cell membranes and chlorophyll, decrease of the quantum yield of photosynthesis, decrease of the photosynthetic rate, increase of stress-ethylene production, and severe ultrastructural change. Lichens exposed to heavy metal pollution exhibit changes of the spectral reflectance response, an increase of malondialdehyde (MDA), a decrease of ATP, and injury to enzymatic activities. A comparative analysis of data referring to the accumulation of airborne elements in lichens and of data referring to alterations in physiological parameters of lichen viability substantiates the validity of assessments of environmental quality.     

The international program on plant bioassays and the report of the follow-up study after the hands-on workshop in China.

Among the seven plant bioassays reviewed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Gene-Tox program in 1980, the Allium/Vicia root tip chromosome aberration assay and the Tradescantia stamen hair mutation and micronucleus assays were adopted by the International Program on Plant Bioassays (IPPB) for monitoring or testing environmental pollutants. These assays are highly sensitive and capable of detecting mutagens, clastogens and carcinogens from the environment. They are effective in situ monitors. These bioassays were validated and their protocols were standardized through a program under the International Program on Chemical Safety (IPPB), the precursor of the IPPB program which currently is in operation under the auspices of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Six different categories of environmental studies, ranging from wastewater, surface or ground water, soil samples, ambient air, pesticides, and radiation, were carried out and are reported in this special issue. The mission of the IPPB/UNEP is to use these bioassays to monitor or test environmental mutagens and clastogens in the air, water, and soil to safeguard the quality of these essential elements in life and to use these simple and clear indicators of pollution damage as the tool for environmental education for the general public. The published reports of the monitoring and testing results will establish the database for environmental conditions in a number of locations around the world. An international monitoring network for the detection of genotoxicity of environmental pollutants is being established under the auspices of UNEP to protect the global environment.     

Assessment of the genotoxicity of mine-dump material using the Tradescantia-stamen hair (Trad-SHM) and the Tradescantia-micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassays.

The Tradescantia-stamen hair (Trad-SHM) and -micronucleus (Trad-MCN) bioassays were used to determine the genotoxicity of two eluates derived from mine tailings. The goal was to test the suitability of the Tradescantia bioassays as screening tools for this kind of waste material. Leachates obtained using the current standard German leaching test methods (S4 eluate) as well as leachates obtained using a new eluation method (pHstat4) were tested and compared. Concentration of heavy metals in the pHstat4 eluate were much higher than in the S4 eluate. The chemical analysis corresponded well with the results of the bioassays. Exposure to solutions containing more than 1% pHstat4 eluate caused a significantly higher number of micronuclei. The Trad-SHM bioassay also showed an increased pink mutation rate when plants were exposed to 8 or 16% eluate solutions. In contrast, the S4 eluate only caused increased mutation rates when solutions containing more than 32% eluate were used. The low pH of the pHstat4 eluate was not responsible for the genotoxicity observed using both bioassays, as indicated by the lack of significant mutation rates in the nitric acid controls. This demonstrates that the Tradescantia bioassays can be used as tools to assess the genotoxic potential of environmental samples with a wide range of pH values, without the need for sample modification.     

Biomonitoring air pollution with the desert lichen Ramalina maciformis

To investigate the environmental impact of anthropogenic activity in the Negev Desert, we monitored the following in order to determine the physiological integrity of the epilithic fruticose lichen Ramalina maciformis: (1) production of ethylene; (2) potential quantum yield of photosystem II expressed as chlorophyll fluorescence ratio Fv/Fm; and (3) electrolyte leakage of cell membranes in terms of electric conductivity. The degree of pollution was assessed by measuring the amounts of B, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Sr and Zn in the lichen thallus. Some of the lichen-carrying stones collected in the relatively unpolluted control site were relocated on the same hill, to test the possible impact of relocation. An additional amount of lichen-carrying stones was marked as controls. The greater part of the lichen-carrying stones was transferred to 10 biomonitoring sites in and around Ramat Hovav, an industrial area in the Negev Desert, Israel. Transplanted lichen in polluted sites contained higher amounts of mineral elements than lichens in the control site after an exposure period of 7 months. Statistical analysis revealed positive correlation of ethylene production and Ni content, negative correlation of Fv/Fm ratios and B, Cu, Mn, Na, Ni, Sr and Zn, and positive correlation of electric conductivity and B, Mn, Ni and Sr. Both elemental content and physiological alterations in transferred samples of R. maciformis point to a high degree of contamination in Ramat Hovav. The present study suggests that the lichen R. maciformis should be classified as a sensitive species endangered by anthropogenic activity in the desert. Furthermore, this lichen species is likely to be suitable as a bioindicator of pollution in other parts of the Negev Desert. Ethylene production and electric conductivity as parameters of lichen-vitality, indicated stress in 5 of the 12 biomonitoring sites (42%) and may therefore be considered as more sensitive than the Fv/Fm ratio, which indicated stress in 3 of the 12 sites (25%).     

Genotoxicity of environmental air pollution in three European cities: Prague, Kosice and Sofia

The genotoxic potential of extractable organic matter (EOM) associated with the respirable particulate matter (PM <10 microm) of atmospheric pollution has been determined in three European cities--Prague (Czech Republic, two monitoring sites, Libus and Smíchov), Kosice (Slovak Republic) and Sofia (Bulgaria) using the alkaline single-cell gel electrophoresis (the comet assay). The EOM samples were extracted by dichloromethane from ambient airborne particles collected daily (24 h intervals) during 3-month sampling periods in winter and summer seasons. The human metabolically competent cell line Hep G2 was used as a test system and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a known carcinogen, was applied as a positive control (internal standard) in each electrophoretic run. Two-hour exposure of Hep G2 cells to equivalent EOM concentrations ranging from 5 to 150 microg EOM/ml resulted in a linear dose-dependent increase of DNA migration (r > 0.9, P < 0.01). A less significant dose-response (r = 0.61) was only induced by the EOM sample from the locality Prague-Libus (PRG-LB) in the winter. Generally, a 1.5 to four-fold increase of DNA strand breaks over the background control level was determined in EOM-exposed cells. In order to compare the genotoxic potential of individual EOMs, a mathematical model was used to correct the 'real' data. No substantial location- or season-related differences were found in EOM genotoxicity (EOM microg/ml), except for the EOM sample from Sofia, collected in the summer. This EOM sample induced a nearly two-fold lower level of DNA damage in comparison with other EOMs. On the other hand, clear statistically significant location- and season-related differences (P < 0.001) in ambient air genotoxicity were determined when the EOM quantity per cubic meter of air (microg/m3) was taken into account. In that case, the genotoxicity of winter air pollution was six- to 10-fold higher in comparison with summer air. The air pollution genotoxicity in individual localities rose during the winter season in the order: PRG-LB < Kosice < Prague-Smíchov (PRG-SM) < Sofia, while during the summer season the highest ambient air genotoxicity was revealed in the locality Prague-Smíchov and approximately equal air pollution genotoxicity was determined among localities Prague-Libus, Kosice and Sofia (PRG-LB approximately Kosice approximately Sofia < PRG-SM). The greatest overall air pollution genotoxicity was determined in the locality Sofia during the winter season. In a time course study to evaluate the kinetics of DNA strand break rejoining it was shown that the level of DNA strand breaks in EOM-exposed cells has returned to near the background level within 24 h after the treatment.     

Distribution and health risk assessment of heavy metals in soil surrounding a lead and zinc smelting plant in Zanjan,Iran

One of the problematic issues in soil pollution studies is heavy metal particles which are produced by mines and smelting units and spread through wind action and/or runoff. Pollution and health risk assessment of cadmium, lead, zinc, copper, and nickel in soil around the lead and zinc smelting factory was carried out in Zanjan City, Iran. Contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), hazard quotient (HQ), hazard index (HI), and carcinogenic risk were pollution and human health risk assessment metrics in this study. Based on the Iranian soil guideline value, soil samples in the studied areas were contaminated the least by copper and nickel and the most by cadmium. PLI results showed that soils near the production line were heavily or extremely heavily polluted. The results of Cf and Igeo showed that lead and zinc were the most important contaminants. Health risk assessment indicated that lead and cadmium in soil were the main contaminants, which pose both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks to human health; carcinogenic risk levels were unacceptably high (above 1 × 10^?4). It can be concluded that mining and smelting activities degrade soil quality in this region and the soil pollution might be extended to farming areas.     

Effects of Chrysotile Asbestos Contaminated Soil on Crop Plants

Chrysotile asbestos was monitored in the soil samples collected from different locations around an asbestos cement factory, viz. close to it as well as 1, 2, and 5 km away from the factory represented as D0, D1, D2, and D5, respectively. Asbestos fibers were relatively dense in samples collected from locations close to the factory compared to those from distant locations. However, soil properties like organic carbon, available nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, electrical conductivity, and pH of the samples collected from different locations were similar. For assessing the effects of chrysotile contaminated soil on crop plants, cemented pots were used with the aforesaid soil samples, in which the control contained soil collected from a location 10 km away from the factory. The plant materials used in this experiment were seeds of food crops commonly grown in the surrounding agro-ecosystem, viz. wheat, pea, and mustard. Seed germination percentage significantly declined with graded exposure to chrysotile asbestos fibers. Toxicity of the latter was equally noticeable on height of the shoot, length of the root, biomass, chlorophyll, and protein content of exposed plants. The study reports adverse effects of chrysotile asbestos on flora growing near the asbestos cement factory.