Study of Potentially Toxic Elements Uptake into Organs of Quercus spp. from Copper Deposits in Slovakia, Italy and Portugal

• Published in: Bulletin of environmental contamination and toxicology Vol. 107; no. 2; pp. 312 - 319
• Main Authors: Andráš, Peter, Midula, Pavol, Milovská, Stanislava, Matos, João Xavier, Kupka, Jiří, Buccheri, Giuseppe, Turisová, Ingrid
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-08-2021; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Abandoned wells; Acid mine drainage; Aquatic Pollution; Bioavailability; Contamination; Copper; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Fluorescence spectroscopy; Mesoderm; Metals; Mineralization; Mining; Nickel; Organs; Plant tissues; Pollution; Quercus; Scientific imaging; Soil Science & Conservation; Spectrometry; Toxicology; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; X-ray fluorescence; Italy; Portugal; Slovakia; Micro X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry; Ca-inhibition influence; Plant organs; Plant tissues; Contamination
• ISSN: 0007-4861; 1432-0800
• DOI: 10.1007/s00128-021-03323-3

The article is focused on the application of Energy dispersive micro X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy as a specific method to determine the contents of potentially toxic elements and its spread in plant tissues. As a model species,
Quercus
spp. were selected. In order to compare the obtained results with previous research, four well-described abandoned Cu-deposits were selected for sampling: Ľubietová (Slovakia), Libiola and Caporciano (Italy), and São Domingos (Portugal). The results of micro X-ray fluorescence spectrometry confirm the irregular contamination of
Quercus
spp. by potentially toxic elements. The level of contamination is the highest predominantly in the root cortex, where is also the highest Ca contents (with exception of São Domingos). At Ľubietová and Caporciano, high Ni content was described in branches cortex, in branches mesoderm also Fe, Cu and Zn. At the same time, the inhibition influence of Ca was also confirmed regarding the input of these elements into plants.