Abstract

CAMARILLO-RAVELO, Dante; BARAJAS-ACEVES, Martha  and  RODRIGUEZ-VAZQUEZ, Refugio. Evaluation of the phytotoxicity of mine tailings in four species used as bioindicators of heavy metals. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2015, vol.31, n.2, pp.133-143. ISSN 0188-4999.

The mine tailings are characterized by a wide heterogeneity in physical and chemical composition that can alter the response of susceptible plants in different ways. In this work we explore the effect of abandoned mine waste on the toxicity of plant test for heavy metal. Four seedlings species were grown on extracts from six mine tailing samples with different capacity of producing acid mine drainage (AMD) and heavy metal concentrations (Pb, Zn and Cu). The mine tailings were amended with or without compost. Root elongation and germination rate were used as indicators to assess phytotoxicity on four species: Lactuca sativa, Cucumis sativus, Brassica juncea and Nasturtium officinale. Hormesis was found in B. juncea growth in almost all the mine tailings with or without compost and in L. sativa in only three mine tailings. The most sensitive species were L. sativa and C. sativus, compared to B. juncea and N. officinale. Root index was the best alternative to assess the phytotoxicity of mine tailings even above the calculation of NOEL and LOEL, which provided a qualitative evaluation.

Keywords : Lactuca sativa; Cucumis sativus; Brassica juncea; Nasturtium officinale; toxicity index.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )