Anthropogenic Influence on Heavy Metals' Content in Natural Flora

Abstract

The content of heavy metals in phytomass of plants in natural habitats and habitats subject to various degrees of anthropogenic influence was estimated by a method of atomic-absorption spectrometry. Concentration of manganese in phytomass of plants in polluted habitats changes from 46.42 to 158.94 mg per Kg of dry matter. At semi-aquatic and water plants of polluted habitats concentration of manganese in green mass is on average 111.05…190.34 mg per Kg . Average concentration of copper for plants of polluted habitats is 3.47…5.96 mg per Kg for background – 3.27 mg per Kg. Plants of semi-aquatic habitats are not inclined to copper accumulation. All terrestrial and semi-aquatic plants in technogenic territories contained iron in insignificant amount. Statistically significant invert correlation between content of iron and such metals, as cadmium, manganese, lead, and magnesium is noted. The value of zinc concentration in plants of technogenic habitats varied from 21.12 to 44.01 mg per Kg of dry matter, slightly exceeding that at plants of background habitats (28.75 mg per Kg ). Zinc content in phytomass of water plants is twice lower than of terrestrial plants (17.05…19.51 mg per Kg ). Concentrations of nickel in plants of background and technogenic habitats are close - 1.93 and 1.69 mg per Kg of dry matter accordingly. Concentration of cadmium in plants from technogenic habitats exceeds maximum allowable concentration (MAC). On the average for plants of polluted habitats the lead content is 1.11…1.15 mg per Kg for background – 0.6 mg. Average concentration of chrome in phytomass changes almost 50 times - from 0.21 mg per Kg to 11.56 mg per Kg .