Elder, linden and pine biomonitoring ability of pollution emitted from the copper smelter and the tailings ponds

• One of the first studies to compare elder, pine and linden biomonitoring ability
• Elder leaves are better for biomonitoring of air and soil pollution, than linden and pine.
• The pollution of soil was the highest in the cases of arsenic and copper.
• Copper smelter is a dominant source of pollution, compared with the tailings ponds.
• Cu and Pb in foliar parts originated from the soil and air, As mainly from the air.

This study aims to evaluate and compare the ability of elder, linden and pine for biomonitoring purposes in the zones affected by emissions from a copper smelter and the tailings ponds of open pit mines. Concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn were determined in foliar parts of plants and in soils.The effects of leaves/needles water washing on the concentrations of the studied elements were examined. The bioaccumulation coefficient (BAC) and correlations between element concentrations in leaves and soil were calculated in order to find out if a plant absorbs a certain element from the soil. In the conditions of the increased environmental pollution, elder soil had the highest As, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd concentrations, compared to pine and linden soil. Elder leaves are a better choice for detection of the analyzed elements in the atmospheric deposition (proved by water washing), and for biomonitoring in the conditions of high environmental pollution. However, all the three plants can serve for biomonitoring purposes. It has been concluded that Cu and Pb in leaves/needles originate from the soil and the air. Pine, linden and elder uptake As predominantly from the air. Copper smelter is a dominant source of pollution, especially in the case of Cu, As and Pb, compared to the tailings ponds of open pit mines.