Open AccessThe content of heavy metals in the leaves of Tilia cordata Mill. and in the soils of urban ecosystems of Cherkasy city
Author(s) -
N. Korneliuk,
Serhii Koniakin,
A. Hrodzynska
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
agroèkologičeskij žurnal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2077-4915
pISSN - 2077-4893
DOI - 10.33730/2077-4893.3.2016.248859
Subject(s) - soil water , environmental chemistry , heavy metals , biota , environmental science , pollution , pollutant , contamination , cadmium , soil contamination , population , biomass (ecology) , chemistry , ecology , soil science , biology , demography , organic chemistry , sociology
The growth of technogenic impact on urbo-landscapes is accompanied by man-made contamination of the environment. Among the most toxic and widespread pollutants of the urban ecosystems an important place belongs to heavy metals. The soil is the main source of accumulation of heavy metals and its uptake by the biota objects, including plants. Elevated concentrations of heavy metals in plant products, in turn, lead to intoxication of people and animals. Toxicity of heavy metals due to their biological activity and availability, resistance of their compounds in the environment, the possibility of small concentrations cause significant negative effects. For the city of Cherkasy the main polluters of the environment with heavy metals are the subsidiary of Cherkasy thermal power (accounting for 75% of the total amount of heavy metals emitted, and contribution of thermal power for emission of Pb, Cu and Zn reach 85%) and automobile transport. It should be noted that the city of Cherkasy (population 285.000 people) is an important economic center of Ukraine, with well-developed chemical and automobile industries. With atomic absorption spectroscopy the content of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) in the leaves of bio-indicator species Tilia cordata Mill. and soils from 24 localities of the city of Cherkassy was examined. The general content of the leaf biomass and soils from different localities of the degree of technogenic pollution of heavy metals are arranged in a sequence Zn > Cu > Pb > Cd. In the city the content Pb and Cd in soils were below the MPK (maximum permissible concentration). Apparently, the content of copper and zinc soils, first of all, caused by pollution of chemical plants emissions, lead, due to industrial and transport factors and cadmium, of the distances to highways. The data obtained suggest that small-leaved linden (T. cordata Mill.) is as a representative species for bio-indication of heavy metals pollution in urban territories