Contamination by trace metals (ETM) assessment of the plants populating

the dump mining Zaida (High Moulouya, Morocco)

Keywords: Zaïda ; dumps ; ETM ; High Moulouya.

ABSTRACT: The proportioning of the metal element traces by ICP-AES (Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Spectrometry Emission) in the mining residues of the dumps, and the plants which populate the mine field of Zaida (High Moulouya), allowed to highlight an important contamination as well as residues of the plants (Stipa tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala). This contamination is materialized by strong concentrations in ETM (Lead, Zinc, Copper and Cadmium).On the level of the plants the distribution of these ETM (Lead, Zinc, Copper and Cadmium) is variable according to the vegetative species and their bodies. The simultaneous presence of the various elements as well induces an increasing toxicity on the flora as on fauna and consequently on the local population.

049-054 | JRA | 2012 | Vol 1 | No 1

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Journal of Research in

Agriculture An International Scientific

Research Journal

Authors:

El himer S1, Bouabdli A1,

Baghdad B2 et Saidi N1.

Institution:

1. Ibn Tofail

University, Faculty of

Science Department of

Geology, 1074

Kenitra,Morocco.

2 . Agronomic and

Veterinary

Institute Hassan II, Madinat

El Irfane, 10101 Rabat,

Morocco.

Corresponding author:

El himer S.

Web Address:

http://www.jagri.info

documents/AG0019.pdf.

Dates: Received: 20 Feb 2012 Accepted: 07 Mar 2012 Published: 04 Apr 2012

Article Citation: El himer S, Bouabdli A, Baghdad B et Saidi N. Contamination by trace metals (ETM) assessment of the plants populating the dump mining Zaida (High Moulouya, Morocco). Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054

Original Research

Journal of Research in Agriculture

Jou

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An International Scientific Research Journal

INTRODUCTION

H e a v y me t a l s a r e a n imp o r t a n t

major pollutants of the environment, their presence in the

different compartments of the ecosystem cause a serious

disruption, and adverse effects on human

health (Akujobi et al., 2012, Bacher et al., 2012 ).

In the commune of Zaida (High Moulouya,

Morocco) we note the presence of an abandoned lead

mine, which causes considerable contamination by trace

metals (ETM) especially lead. The presence of lead and

other heavy metals in this region is a potential risk

to people. They can enter the food chain

through grazing (Akujobi et al., 2012). Lead is

neither essential nor beneficial to living organisms; it

negatively affects body organ sespecially the nervous

system (White et al., 2007 in Akujobi et al., 2012).

Faced with the need to preserve this ecosystem,

different studies have been conducted (Saidi et al, 2002),

(Saidi, 2004), (Bouabdli et al., 2004), (Bouabdli et al.,

2005), (El Hachimi, 2005), (El Hachimi, 2006),

(Baghdad et al., 2006), (Baghdad, 2008), (Berrah El

Kheir et al., 2008), and (Berrah El Kheir et al., 2010).

The different deposits from mining are stored in

the form of dumps. The distribution of vegetation on and

near these dumps shows a scattered vegetation cover and

a near zero relative to the steppe (Fig 1). According to

the studies by (Baghdad, 2008) these dumps are the only

source of contamination in the region.

This random distribution of plants is probably

due to overgrazing, human impact increased or a

selection of species.

Among the most important plants found on the

steppe Stipa tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola

longipetala were taken into consideration for discussion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Among the main plants we studied Stipa

tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala

are found to be dominant in that area. For each species

the aerial part was seperated from the root part, washed

thoroughly with distilled water and dried in the open

space before placing them in oven at 60 ° C.

The dissolution of trace metals were made by the

method of aqua regia. The ground samples (test sample 1

g) were calcined for four hours at temperatures from

110 °C to 550 °C progressively.

After cooling, the samples were added with 5 ml

of nitric acid (HNO3) (5N), and evaporated totally using

a hot plate. They were placed in oven at 550 ° C for

about two hours.

The residue was added then to the 5 ml of HNO3

(1N) and allowed to stand 60 minutes inorder to address

the digestion process. Then 15 ml of hydrochloric acid

(HCl) (0.1N) was added and allowed to stand for

30 minutes.

The solutions obtained were transferred into vials

for analysing in ICP / AES (Inductive Coupled Plasma -

Atomic Emission Spectroscopy) at the laboratory of

Biotechnology Fertilization and Special Products of

Centre for Study and Research on Minerals Phosphates

(CERPHOS) Casablanca, Morocco.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The distribution of ETM (Lead, Zinc, Copper,

Cadmium) in shoots and roots of plants is given in

Table 1.

050 Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054

El himer et al., 2012

Metal

mg / Kg

Stipa tenuifolia Reseda phyteuma Matthiol longipetala

Shoot Root Shoot Root Shoot Root

Pb 68,16 162,7 83,61 198,1 29,45 106,7

Cu 22,71 14,83 18,9 18,57 21,31 13,97

Zn 15,5 28,64 246 120,8 21,75 35,76

Cd 0,19 0,31 1,58 1,96 0,4 0,78

Table 1: Concentration of ETM in the shoot and roots parts of Stipa tenuifolia

Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala

The analysis of this table shows that these plants

have contents that vary between 29.45 and 198.1 mg / kg

for Lead, between 13.97 and 22.71 mg / kg for Copper,

between 15, 5 and 246 mg / kg for Zinc and between

0.19 and 1.96 mg / kg for Cadmium.

Note that the roots of Reseda phyteuma record

the highest levels of Lead and Cadmium, and its aerial

parts recorded the highest content of Zinc. Stipa

tenuifolia is characterized by the highest content of

Copper, recorded in its shoots. Our work allowed us to

characterize the distribution of ETM in the different

compartments:

Aerial parts

The analysis of trace metals in this compartment

shows that Reseda phyteuma is distinguished by high

contents of Lead (Figure 1), Zinc and Cadmium which

are respectively about 83.61, 246 and 1.58 mg / kg; Stipa

tenuifolia shows levels which are highest in Cu which

are about 22.71 mg / Kg against the other elements Lead,

Zinc and Cadmium are respectively 68.16, 15.5, 0.19

mg / Kg. Regarding the contents of Matthiola

longipetala trace metals are in the order of 29.45 mg / kg

for Pb, 21.31 mg / kg for Cu, 21.75 mg / kg for Zn and 0,

4 mg / kg for Cd.

Compared with the average grades established by

Kabata-Pendias et al., (1992) (Table 2) we notice that

the three species have toxic levels of Lead, and are

located in the margin of the normal level for Copper. The

content of Zinc toxicity is at the reach of Reseda

phyteuma and is less than normal for Stipa tenuifolia and

Matthiola longipetala. The concentration of Cadmium is

toxic in Reseda phyteuma, Matthiola longipetala and is

located in the normal Stipa tenuifolia.

Root parts

The concentration of trace elements in the root

parts are characterized by high levels of lead that are

about 198.1 mg / kg for Reseda phyteuma, 162.7 mg / kg

for Stipa tenuifolia and 106.7 mg / kg for Matthiola

longipetala. For Copper concentrations are respectively

18.57 mg / kg for Reseda phyteuma, 14.83 mg / kg for

Stipa tenuifolia and 13.97 mg / kg for Matthiola

longipetala. The Zinc content is in the order of 120.8

mg / kg for Reseda phyteuma 35.76 mg / kg for

Matthiola longipetala and 28.64 mg / Kg for Stipa

tenuifolia. In Reseda phyteuma Cadmium is present in

very high amount 1.96 mg / Kg than other species.

For Lead, it focuses advantage in the shoots of

Stipa tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and slightly less in

Matthiola longipetala, such results are consistent with

Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054 051

El himer et al., 2012

Concentration / element (mg / kg DM) Pb Cu Zn Cd

ETM concentration in aerial parts of

plants from Kabata-Pendias et al.,

(1992)

normal level 5-10 5-30 27-150 0.05-0.2

content of toxic

30-300

20-100

100-400

5-30

Table 2: Content of trace elements in the aerial parts of plants after Kabata-Pendias et al., (1992).

Figure 1: ETM concentration in the shoots

of the species studied.

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

280

Stipa tenuifolia Reseda phyteuma Matthiola longipetala

Espéce

Co

ncen

tra

tio

n e

n E

TM

en

mg

/Kg

Pb Cu Zn Cd

Figure 2: Concentration ETM root in parts

of the species studied.

0

40

80

120

160

200

240

Stipa tenuifolia Reseda phyteuma Matthiola longipetala

Espéce

Co

ncen

tra

tio

n e

n E

TM

en

mg

/Kg

Pb Cu Zn Cd

those of Baghdad, (2008) for other species harvested in

the same region. Leita et al., (1989) have shown that

concentrations of lead in cash flush mining areas were

ranged from 8 to 4036 mg / Kg.

For Zinc and Cadmium, they accumulate in the

aerial parts of Reseda phyteuma, this phenomenon was

also highlighted by Tremble-Schaub et al., (2005) who

showed that Zinc is concentrated more in roots than in

shoots.

For copper, it concentrates more in the shoots of

Stipa tenuifolia and Matthiola longipetala, and it has

almost the same concentrations in the roots than in shoot

of Reseda phyteuma. All the three species, accumulate

Lead and Cadmium in root parts thereof, for they

accumulate Zinc and Copper, in the aerial parts of

Reseda phyteuma and Stipa tenuifolia respectively. The

work of Baghdad, 2008 have shown that the levels of

Lead, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium (Table 3) in the mining

residue dumps are high and are 2490 mg / kg, 18.4 mg /

kg 148 mg / Kg and 2.1 mg / Kg respectively. These

different levels are reflected directly on the

concentrations found in the species studied. This allows

us to establish a direct relationship between residues and

plants that inhabit them.

The analysis of these results showed that the

concentration of elements trace metals in shoots and

roots depends on the concentration of trace metals in the

substrate, the species and the vegetative body. Indeed the

species Reseda phyteuma accumulates Lead, Zinc and

Cadmium both in the shoot and the root. While Stipa

tenuifolia and Matthiola longipetala focuses Lead and

Zinc in the root. Such results are consistent with the

work of (Adriano, 1986), (Alloway, 1990), (Alloway,

1995) (Martin et al., 1996) (Fleming et al., 1977), (Saidi,

2004) and (Baghdad, 2008). On the other hand the

analysis of certain elements such as Lead, Zinc and

Cadmium that accumulates in the root parts showed the

existence of a mechanism that blocks the passage of

certain elements to both above (Yoon et al., 2006).

CONCLUSION

The analysis of trace metals in the three species

showed high levels exceeding the standards established

by Kabata-Pendias et al., 1992. The content of Lead and

Cadmium in the roots of Stipa tenuifolia, Reseda

phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala reached high levels,

this accumulation is due to a mechanism for blocking the

passage of this element to the shoot parts. The lead

concentration is high in the shoots of the species studied,

however none of these species proved hyperaccumulator

but they are good examples of adaptation of plants to

high levels of ETM.

The growth of these species on soils rich ETM

implies the existence of a mechanism of tolerance to

heavy metals and will fight against wind erosion and

protect the biodiversity of the flora of the former mine

Zaida (High Moulouya, Morocco). The amount of heavy

metals absorbed by the species studied depends on the

species and its storing capacity in the plant body.

A study of the evolution of the concentration of

trace elements in metal compartments of each species

052 Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054

El himer et al., 2012

Item Pb Cu Zn Cd

Content (mg / Kg) 2490 18,4 148 2,1

Table 3: Levels of ETM in the dumps of the

abandoned mine Lead Zaida (High Moulouya,

Morocco) (Baghdad, 2008).

Photo 1: The three dumps of mine Zaida (High

Moulouya, Morocco) (Baghdad, 2008).

depending on the remoteness of the dumps are needed to

assess the hazard posed by this pollution to human

health, and will identify the advantage and behavior of

these species trace metals.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This work falls under the thematic Program of

Support for Scientific Research PROTARS II (P23/32).

We thank El Kanit Abdelmoumen and the entire staff of

the Biotechnology Laboratory Fertilization and Special

Products Centre for Study and Research Spécial Mineral

of Phosphates (CERPHOS) in Casablanca, for

collaboration and for welcoming us to perform the

analyzes .

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