Distribution of heavy metals and arsenic in soils and indigenous plants near an iron ore mine in northwest Iran

Heavy metal contaminations in the environment of mining area have become a global problem. The vicinity of an iron ore mine was investigated to estimate the concentrations of As, Pb, Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn, and Cr in the soil and the feasibility of using native plants for phytoremediation. For this, concentrations of elements in soil samples collected and were analyzed by inductivity coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The concentrations of heavy metals and arsenic in the roots and aerial parts of Dactylis glomerata L. and Scleranthus orientalis Rössler were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer too. As concentrations in the samples surpassed the soil toxicity threshold. Cd concentration in soil samples was considerably high next to mine pit. Neither species was identified as a hyperaccumulator, but both species could be considered as excluder plants for As.