Abstract
Mining wastes may pose risk nearby urban and agricultural areas. We investigated a lettuce crop land close to a former capped mine tailing in order to determinate the metal uptake by crops. Soil plot sampling design within the crop area and two transects along the tailing were performed. In addition, lettuces (root and leaves) were analyzed after transplant and harvest. The results showed a pH of around 7–8 for all the soil samples. Total metal concentrations were as follows: 190–510 mg kg−1 Pb, 13–21 mg kg−1 Cu, and 210–910 mg kg−1 Zn. Diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid-extractable Pb was around 18% of the total Pb in some samples. Transects along the base and on the plateau of the tailing showed high metal concentrations of Pb (up to 5,800 mg kg−1) and Zn (up to 4,500 mg kg−1), indicating that capping layer had been eroded. Lettuce leaves showed Pb concentrations within standard for human health (<0.3 mg kg−1 in fresh weight). For essential micronutrients such as Cu and Zn, leaves had optimal content (10–28 mg kg−1 Cu, 60–85 mg kg−1 Zn). A continued monitoring in metal uptake is needed in crop lands close to mining wastes in order to prevent risks in food safety. Capped tailings must be monitored and rehabilitation works performed from time to time.
References
Alloway, B. J., Thornton, I., Smart, G. A., Sherlock, J. C., & Quinn, M. J. (1998). Metal availability. Science of the Total Environment, 75(1), 41–69.
Blasco, B., Rios, J. J., Cervilla, L. M., Sánchez-Rodríguez, E., Ruiz, J. M., & Romero, L. (2008). Iodine biofortification and antioxidant capacity of lettuce: Potential benefits for cultivation and human health. Annals of Applied Biology, 152(3), 289–299.
Branca, F., & Ferrari, M. (2002). Impact of micronutrient deficiencies on growth: The stunting syndrome. Annuals of Nutrition and Metabolism, 46, 8–17.
Chapman, H. D. (1965). Cation exchange capacity. In C. A. Black (Ed.), Methods of soils analysis (pp. 891–901). Madison: American Society of Agronomy.
Cobb, G. P., Sands, K., Waters, M., Wixson, B. G., & Dorward-King, E. (2000). Accumulation of heavy metals by vegetables grown in mine wastes. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 19(3), 600–607.
Conesa, H. M. (2003). Informe Agronómico sobre la finca de “Las Jacobas”. Cartagena, Spain: Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena. Technical report.
Conesa, H. M., Faz, Á., & Arnaldos, R. (2006). Heavy metal accumulation and tolerance in plants from mine tailings of the semiarid Cartagena–La Union mining district (SE Spain). Science of the Total Environment, 366(1), 1–11.
Conesa, H. M., Moradi, A. B., Robinson, B. H., Kuhne, G., Lehmann, E., & Schulin, R. (2009). Response of native grasses and Cicer arietinum to soil polluted with mining wastes: Implications for the management of land adjacent to mine sites. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 65(2–3), 198–204.
Duchaufour, Ph. (1970). Précis de Pedologie. París: Masson y Cie.
European Communities. (2001) Commission Regulation 466/2001 setting maximum levels for certain contaminants in foodstuffs. Off. J. Eur. Commun. L77, 16/03/01, 1–13.
Ernst, W. H. O. (1996). Bioavailability of heavy metals and decontamination of soils by plants. Applied Geochemistry, 11(1–2), 163–167.
Gasic, K., & Korban, S. S. (2006). Heavy metal stress. In K. V. Madhava Rao, A. S. Raghavendra & K. Janardhan Reddy (Eds.), Physiology and molecular biology of stress tolerance in plants (pp. 219–254). New York: Springer.
Lee, J.-S., & Chon, H. T. (2003). Exposure assessment of heavy metals on abandoned metal mine areas by ingestion of soil, crop plant and groundwater. Journal de Physique IV, 107, 757–760.
Leita, L., Mondini, C., De Nobili, M., Simoni, A., & Sequi, P. (1998). Heavy metal content in xylem sap (Vitis vinifera) from mining and smelting areas. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, 50(2), 189–200.
Lindsay, W. L., & Norvell, W. A. (1978). Development of a DTPA soil test for zinc, iron, manganese and copper. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 42(3), 421–428.
Maret, W., & Sandstead, H. H. (2006). Zinc requirements and the risks and benefits of zinc supplementation. Journal of Trace Elements in Medicine and Biology, 20(1), 3–18.
Martínez-Orozco, J. M., Valero-Huete, F., & González-Alonso, S. (1993). Environmental problems and proposals to reclaim the areas affected by mining exploitations in the Cartagena mountains (southeast Spain). Landscape and Urban Planning, 23(3–4), 195–207.
Martínez-Sánchez, M. J., & Pérez-Sirvent, C. (2007). Niveles de fondo y niveles genéricos de referencia de metales pesados en suelos de la Región de Murcia. Murcia: Universidad de Murcia, Región de Murcia, Consejería de Desrrollo Sostenible y Ordenación del Territorio.
NAS (National Academy of Sciences). (2001). Dietary reference intakes for vitamin A, vitamin K, arsenic, boron, chromium, copper, iodine, iron, manganese, molybdenum, nickel, silicon, vanadium, and zinc. National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine, Food and Nutrition Board, USA, http://www.nap.edu.
Salomons, W. (1995). Environmental impact of metals derived from mining activities: processes, predictions, prevention. Journal of Geochemical Exploration, 52(1–2), 5–23.
White, P. J., & Broadley, M. R. (2005). Biofortifying crops with essential mineral elements. Trends in Plant Science, 10(12), 586–593.
Acknowledgments
We want to thank Dr. Ripolles for his valuable comments and Fundación Séneca de la Comunidad Autónoma de Murcia for its financial support. Also, we want to thank Willy Manfredo for his comments in relation to English typing.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Conesa, H.M., Pérez-Chacón, J.A., Arnaldos, R. et al. In Situ Heavy Metal Accumulation in Lettuce Growing Near a Former Mining Waste Disposal Area: Implications for Agricultural Management. Water Air Soil Pollut 208, 377–383 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0173-y
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-009-0173-y