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548204 
Journal Article 
Heavy Metal Concentrations of Dominant Plants and Bioaccumulation in Three Manganese Mine Wastelands, Guangxi 
Tang, WJ; Li, MS 
2008 
1 
Nongye Huanjing Kexue Xuebao / Journal of Agro-Environment Science
ISSN: 1672-2043 
27 
5 
1757-1763 
English 
Heavy metal contamination of metal-mined wasteland is an overlooked problem in China, and Guangxi, the largest Mn-ore mining region, has vast areas of minelands awaiting restoration. An extensive ecological survey and sampling were conducted on Quanzhou, Bansu and Xialei manganese mine wastelands in Guangxi. Soils and twenty dominant plants were determined for the heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, Zn and Mn). The results showed that Cd and Mn were the main contaminants of the minesoils. Among the three wastelands, Quanzhou minesoil was most seriously polluted by Mn. Heavy metal levels in the mineland plants were generally in the order of Mn>Zn>Cr> Cu>Pb>Cd, consistent with the trend of metal concentrations in minesoils. The Mn contents in the plant tissues were usually higher than normal. Phytolacca acinosa and Camellia sinensis exhibited very strong Mn accumulation characteristics, suitable for use in phytoremediation of manganese-contaminated soils; Arundo donax may be used as a good stabilizer for the loose slag dumps and tailings dams; Miscanthus floridulus and Erigeron acer are metal-tolerant grass species and resistant to drought and inadequacy of nutrients, thus can be used as pioneer plants for revegetation of manganese-mine wastelands. The dominant plants usually had low bioaccumulation of metals in tissues, but some species (e.g. Phytolacca acinosa) had very high transfer ability for particular metals (e.g. Cd, Cr and Mn). The edible parts of corn and cassava grown in Bansu mineland failed to satisfy the Maximum Allowable Levels for Food Safety Standards of China, thus agricultural utilization as a restoration prototype for reclaiming mine wasteland at early stage is not recommended. 
Article Subject Terms: Bioaccumulation; Cadmium; Chromium; Contaminants; Copper; Dams; Droughts; Food; Food contamination; Grasses; Heavy metals; Lead; Manganese; Metals; Mine tailings; Mines; Mining; Nutrients; Phytoremediation; Revegetation; Sampling; Soil; Zinc; corn; heavy metals; nutrients; phytoremediation; prototypes; revegetation; Article Taxonomic Terms: Acer; Arundo donax; Camellia; sinensis; Erigeron; Manihot esculenta; Miscanthus floridulus; Phytolacca; Article Geographic Terms: China, People's Rep., Guangxi; P 5000 LAND POLLUTION; EE 30 Soil Pollution: Monitoring, Control &; Remediation; X 24360 Metals