title: Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil potential by woody plants on Tonglushan ancient copper spoil heap in China.
abstract: Fast-growing metal-accumulating woody plants are considered potential candidates for phytoremediation of metals. Tonglushan mining, one of the biggest Cu production bases in China, presents an important source of the pollution of environment. The sample was collected at Tonglushan ancient copper spoil heap. The aims were to measure the content of heavy metal in the soil and woody plants and to elucidate the phytoremediation potential of the plants. The result showed that soil Cu, Cd and Pb were the main contamination, the mean contents of which were 3166.73 mg/kg, 3.66 mg/kg and 137.06 mg/kg respectively, which belonged to severe contamination. Fourteen species from 14 genera of 13 families were collected and investigated; except for Ligutrum lucidum, the other 13 woody plants species were newly recorded in this area. In addition, to assess the ability of metal accumulation of these trees, we proposed accumulation index. Data suggested that Platanus × acerilolia, Broussonetia papyrifera, Ligutrum lucidum, Viburnum awabuki, Firmiana simplex, Robina pseudoacacia, Melia azedarach and Osmanthus fragrans exhibited high accumulated capacity and strong tolerance to heavy metals. Therefore, Platanus × acerilolia and Broussonetia papyrifera can be planted in Pb contaminated areas; Viburnum awabuki, Firmiana simplex, Robina pseudoacacia and Melia azedarach are the suitable trees for Cd contaminated areas; Viburnum awabuki, Melia azedarach, Ligutrum lucidum, Firmiana simplex, Osmanthus fragrans and Robina pseudoacacia are appropriate to Cu, Pb and Cd multi-metal contaminated areas.
authors.affiliation: a State key laboratory of biogeology and environmental geology , China University of Geosciences , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.|b Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Mining Area Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation , Hubei Polytechnic University , Huangshi , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: a State key laboratory of biogeology and environmental geology , China University of Geosciences , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jianguo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bao
authors.affiliation: b Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Mining Area Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation , Hubei Polytechnic University , Huangshi , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: a State key laboratory of biogeology and environmental geology , China University of Geosciences , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: a State key laboratory of biogeology and environmental geology , China University of Geosciences , Wuhan , People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liuming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D008906:Mining; D010944:Plants; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014197:Trees; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012987:Soil; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Tonglushan ancient copper mine; accumulation index; heavy metal; phytoremediation; woody plants