Reduction of Some Polluting Metals in Contaminated Mining and Metallurgical Land

This study analyzed the content of polluting and toxic elements (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd and Pb) in the cadastral municipalities immediately surrounding the mining and metallurgical complex Bor in Serbia. The soil is exposed to hazardous substances due to historical pollution. Soil pollution at different locations was assessed based on the measured concentration of metals and the contamination factor (Cf). The increased content of the toxic metals was determined mostly for copper and arsenic. Three types of different plants were used in order to reduce the content of toxic metals in the contaminated mining and metallurgical land. The results showed that these plants (barley Hordeum sativum, sugar grazer Sorghum bicolor, and hybrid BMR 333 Sudan grass) were capable of growing and accumulating metals in plants at copper-mined and metallurgical sites.