Trace Elements in Medicine (Moscow)
2017, 18(1): 43–51
ORIGINAL PAPER

CONTENTS OF BIOELEMENTS IN MEDICINAL PLANTS IN THE DEPLETED OPENCAST AFFECTED AREA (ON THE EXAMPLE OF TUBINSKY VILLAGE, REPUBLIC OF BASHKORTOSTAN)

I.N. Semenova, Yu.S. Rafikova, G.Ya. Biktimerova, Ya.T. Suyundukov

Institute of Strategic Studies of the Republic of Bashkortostan, Sibaysky branch, Tsetkin str. 2, Sibay, 453830, Russia

DOI: 10.19112/2413-6174-2017-18-1-43-51 

ABSTRACT. A number of mining companies located in the territory of the Bashkir Trans-Ural, currently does not work due to the depletion of ore reserves. Despite the cessation of active industrial activity, depleted open pits represent environmental threat to the population, including those related to the high content of heavy metals in the environment. This study was conducted in the Tubinsky village, Baimak district of Bashkortostan, where a large gold deposit developed in the last century. Content of bioelements in medicinal plants in the area affected by a depleted opencast was studied. All investigated soil samples had increased as compared to the maximum permissible concentration of total content of essential elements: Cu (1.4 to 9.7 times), Zn (3.4 to 6.2 times), Fe (from 5.5 to 31.9 times), Co (1.1 to 1.4 times), part of the samples was contaminated Mn (1.4 times), Cd (from 1.1 to 2.2 times). Elevated levels of mobile forms were detected in all investigated soil samples for the following chemical elements: Cu (4.6 to 18.7 times), Zn (6.2 to 8.0 times), Fe (12.7 to 36, 8 times), Ni (1.5 to 2.5 times). Some samples were characterized by an increased content of mobile Mn (1.3 times). In plants, Achillea millefolium L., growing in the study area, the maximum allowable levels of zinc and lead were exceeded. The magnitude of the average content of studied heavy metals in yarrow organs can be represented in the following descending series (mg/kg): Fe (1037.5) > Mn (148.5) > Zn (65.6) > Cu (9.7) > Pb (2.8) > Ni (0.9) > Cd (0.09) > Co (0.06) for the above-ground parts and Fe (718.8) > Mn (111.0) > Zn (40.3) > Cu (8.0) > Pb (3.4) > Ni (1.9) > Cd (0.08) > Co (0.04) to the roots. Thus, yarrow plants have a relatively low accumulation of most heavy metals from soil and considerable tolerance in relation to them, due to the barrier function of the root system.

KEYWORDS: bioelements, heavy metals, Bashkir Trans-Ural, Achillea millefolium L., mining companies.