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Heavy metal content of plants growing on soils contaminated by lead mining

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 March 2009

B. J. Alloway  and
B. E. Davies
B. J. Alloway
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.
B. E. Davies
Affiliation:
Department of Geography, University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, Cardiganshire.
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Extract

During the nineteenth century several parts of Wales were intensively mined for lead, zinc and copper ores. Fields adjacent to and downstream from the mines became contaminated by air- and water-borne heavy metal compounds. Such fields still contain high concentrations of total lead, zinc and copper together with silver and cadmium, the chief ‘guest’ elements in lead and zinc ores. Extraction of the soils with dilute acetic acid suggested that contaminated soils contained more of these metals that were available to plants (Alloway, 1969; Alloway & Davies, 1971). Some studies of plant composition were made to confirm the evidence from soil extraction and to indicate the extent to which these metals were entering the food chain.

Type
Short Note
Information
The Journal of Agricultural Science , Volume 76 , Issue 2 , April 1971 , pp. 321 - 323
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1971

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References

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