Examination of heavy metal accumulation in the sediments and plants of an active floodplain near the River Tisza

摘要

Several sources of pollution can be found in the catchment area of the River Tisza and some of them significantly contribute to the pollution of the river and its active floodplain. In this paper the accumulation of four metals (Zn, Cu, Co, Ni) in soil and plant (Zea mays, Urtica Dioica L.) samples and their relations to the soil characteristics were studied near Gulács (Hungary). Since the metal availability is also an important factor, the Lakanen-Ervi? (NH4-acetate + EDTA) extractable metal content of the soil was also determined. Summarizing the results we can say that, considering the metal accumulation, the granulometric composition plays the most important role among the soil characteristics. Significant correlation was found between the acid-soluble and the Lakanen-Ervi? extracted metal concentrations, but in most cases (Co, Cu, Zn) no connection was found between the easily soluble metal content and the concentrations accumulated by the plants. Regarding the land use more Co and Zn was found in the soil samples of orchards, but more Cu and Ni accumulated in the soils of ploughlands.