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CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TESTS USED TO ASSESS THE ECOLOGICAL RISK OF POLLUTION WITH HEAVY METALS AND ARSENIC IN TARNITA MINING AREA, SUCEAVA COUNTY, ROMANIA

Gabi Drochioiu, Andriana Surleva, Darja Ilieva, Olga Pintilie, Vasile Robert Grădinaru

Abstract

The long-term activity of a polymetallic ore mine in the region of Tarnita-Suceava, Romania, has resulted in an enormous amount of waste material, collected in tailing dumps and ponds. The impact of the waste materials on the surrounding ecosystem and human health are far to be fully estimated. The deposited waste has exerted negative impact on the environment, especially on the soils that host dumps and drainage waters. Heavy metals, including arsenic also interfere with the metabolism of plants, and reduce the nutritive value of the produce. Consequently, we applied several chemical analyses and germination tests in an attempt to estimate the ability of soil to maintain the plants growing, the bioavailability, and heavy metals uptake. Copper, zinc, arsenic, and lead were the most abundant toxic elements in the studied samples. The sequential extraction revealed that up to 51% of copper was retained by amorphous and crystalline iron oxides in soil. The heavy metal concentration in river water during dry season varied from 0.13 mg/L (Fe) to 4.2 mg/L (Zn), being below the maximum contamination level for drinking water. The seeds germinated on the studied soils accumulated elevated concentrations of heavy metals thus indicating the bioavailability of soil contaminants. Arsenate decreased significantly the germination rate of wheat seeds, but phosphate has proved antagonistic. Germination tests may also be a reliable tool in the investigation of toxicity of waste materials to the environment. Decontamination methods based on salt extraction in water and some solutions are discussed as well.

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