Open AccessSulfur Contamination and Environmental Effects: A Case Study of Current SO2 Industrial Emission by Biomonitoring and Regional Post-mining hot-spots
Author(s) -
Justyna LikusCieślik,
Marcin Pietrzykowski
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
the open biotechnology journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 11
ISSN - 1874-0707
DOI - 10.2174/1874070702115010082
Subject(s) - biomonitoring , environmental science , sulfur , contamination , environmental chemistry , pollution , ecosystem , acid rain , vegetation (pathology) , deposition (geology) , biogeochemical cycle , soil contamination , soil water , chemistry , ecology , geology , soil science , sediment , biology , medicine , paleontology , organic chemistry , pathology
The presence of sulfur in the environment is an important macroelement for plant growth but becomes harmful in excessive amounts. The previous century saw rising levels of high SO 2 concentrations (stemming from fossil fuel combustion) and wet deposition from acid rain, causing the intensification of forest die-back. Air pollution can be controlled or measured by biomonitoring. Despite recent reductions in SO 2 emissions, urban and industrial areas are still at risk from high sulfur contamination. Open-cast lignite and sulfur borehole mining play a pivotal role in the regional scale of ecosystem contamination and acid mine drainage. Consequently, these aspects are unique for assessing the impact of extreme S contamination on soil properties changes, the vegetation effect, and biogeochemical cycles. We presented i) current SO 2 pollution based on S concentration in pine needles, and ii) a comprehensive study of soil properties, as well as plant reactions to excessive sulfur concentration in the restored forest ecosystem of a former sulfur mine.