Contamination by trace metals (ETM) assessment of the plants populating

the dump mining Zaida (High Moulouya, Morocco)

Keywords:
Zada ; dumps ; ETM ; High Moulouya.
ABSTRACT:


The proportioning of the metal element traces by ICP-AES (Inductively
Coupled Plasma-Atomic Spectrometry Emission) in the mining residues of the dumps,
and the plants which populate the mine field of Zaida (High Moulouya), allowed to
highlight an important contamination as well as residues of the plants (Stipa
tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala).
This contamination is materialized by strong concentrations in ETM (Lead,
Zinc, Copper and Cadmium).On the level of the plants the distribution of these ETM
(Lead, Zinc, Copper and Cadmium) is variable according to the vegetative species and
their bodies.
The simultaneous presence of the various elements as well induces an
increasing toxicity on the flora as on fauna and consequently on the local population.
049-054 | JRA | 2012 | Vol 1 | No 1

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www.jagri.info
Journal of Research in
Agriculture
An International Scientific
Research Journal
Authors:
El himer S
1
, Bouabdli A
1
,
Baghdad B
2
et Saidi N
1
.


Institution:
1. Ibn Tofail
University, Faculty of
Science Department of
Geology, 1074
Kenitra,Morocco.

2 . Agronomic and
Veterinary
Institute Hassan II, Madinat
El Irfane, 10101 Rabat,
Morocco.



Corresponding author:
El himer S.











Web Address:
http://www.jagri.info
documents/AG0019.pdf.


Dates:
Received: 20 Feb 2012 Accepted: 07 Mar 2012 Published: 04 Apr 2012
Article Citation:
El himer S, Bouabdli A, Baghdad B et Saidi N.
Contamination by trace metals (ETM) assessment of the plants populating the dump
mining Zaida (High Moulouya, Morocco).
Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054
Original Research
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INTRODUCTION
He a vy me t a l s a r e a n i mpo r t a nt
major pollutants of the environment, their presence in the
different compartments of the ecosystem cause a serious
disruption, and adverse effects on human
health (Akujobi et al., 2012, Bacher et al., 2012 ).
In the commune of Zaida (High Moulouya,
Morocco) we note the presence of an abandoned lead
mine, which causes considerable contamination by trace
metals (ETM) especially lead. The presence of lead and
other heavy metals in this region is a potential risk
to people. They can enter the food chain
through grazing (Akujobi et al., 2012). Lead is
neither essential nor beneficial to living organisms; it
negatively affects body organ sespecially the nervous
system (White et al., 2007 in Akujobi et al., 2012).
Faced with the need to preserve this ecosystem,
different studies have been conducted (Saidi et al, 2002),
(Saidi, 2004), (Bouabdli et al., 2004), (Bouabdli et al.,
2005), (El Hachimi, 2005), (El Hachimi, 2006),
(Baghdad et al., 2006), (Baghdad, 2008), (Berrah El
Kheir et al., 2008), and (Berrah El Kheir et al., 2010).
The different deposits from mining are stored in
the form of dumps. The distribution of vegetation on and
near these dumps shows a scattered vegetation cover and
a near zero relative to the steppe (Fig 1). According to
the studies by (Baghdad, 2008) these dumps are the only
source of contamination in the region.
This random distribution of plants is probably
due to overgrazing, human impact increased or a
selection of species.
Among the most important plants found on the
steppe Stipa tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola
longipetala were taken into consideration for discussion.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Among the main plants we studied Stipa
tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala
are found to be dominant in that area. For each species
the aerial part was seperated from the root part, washed
thoroughly with distilled water and dried in the open
space before placing them in oven at 60 C.
The dissolution of trace metals were made by the
method of aqua regia. The ground samples (test sample 1
g) were calcined for four hours at temperatures from
110 C to 550 C progressively.
After cooling, the samples were added with 5 ml
of nitric acid (HNO3) (5N), and evaporated totally using
a hot plate. They were placed in oven at 550 C for
about two hours.
The residue was added then to the 5 ml of HNO
3

(1N) and allowed to stand 60 minutes inorder to address
the digestion process. Then 15 ml of hydrochloric acid
(HCl) (0.1N) was added and allowed to stand for
30 minutes.
The solutions obtained were transferred into vials
for analysing in ICP / AES (Inductive Coupled Plasma -
Atomic Emission Spectroscopy) at the laboratory of
Biotechnology Fertilization and Special Products of
Centre for Study and Research on Minerals Phosphates
(CERPHOS) Casablanca, Morocco.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The distribution of ETM (Lead, Zinc, Copper,
Cadmium) in shoots and roots of plants is given in
Table 1.
050 Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054
El himer et al., 2012
Metal
mg / Kg
Stipa tenuifolia Reseda phyteuma Matthiol longipetala
Shoot Root Shoot Root Shoot Root
Pb 68,16 162,7 83,61 198,1 29,45 106,7
Cu 22,71 14,83 18,9 18,57 21,31 13,97
Zn 15,5 28,64 246 120,8 21,75 35,76
Cd 0,19 0,31 1,58 1,96 0,4 0,78
Table 1: Concentration of ETM in the shoot and roots parts of Stipa tenuifolia
Reseda phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala
The analysis of this table shows that these plants
have contents that vary between 29.45 and 198.1 mg / kg
for Lead, between 13.97 and 22.71 mg / kg for Copper,
between 15, 5 and 246 mg / kg for Zinc and between
0.19 and 1.96 mg / kg for Cadmium.
Note that the roots of Reseda phyteuma record
the highest levels of Lead and Cadmium, and its aerial
parts recorded the highest content of Zinc. Stipa
tenuifolia is characterized by the highest content of
Copper, recorded in its shoots. Our work allowed us to
characterize the distribution of ETM in the different
compartments:
Aerial parts
The analysis of trace metals in this compartment
shows that Reseda phyteuma is distinguished by high
contents of Lead (Figure 1), Zinc and Cadmium which
are respectively about 83.61, 246 and 1.58 mg / kg; Stipa
tenuifolia shows levels which are highest in Cu which
are about 22.71 mg / Kg against the other elements Lead,
Zinc and Cadmium are respectively 68.16, 15.5, 0.19
mg / Kg. Regarding the contents of Matthiola
longipetala trace metals are in the order of 29.45 mg / kg
for Pb, 21.31 mg / kg for Cu, 21.75 mg / kg for Zn and 0,
4 mg / kg for Cd.

Compared with the average grades established by
Kabata-Pendias et al., (1992) (Table 2) we notice that
the three species have toxic levels of Lead, and are
located in the margin of the normal level for Copper. The
content of Zinc toxicity is at the reach of Reseda
phyteuma and is less than normal for Stipa tenuifolia and
Matthiola longipetala. The concentration of Cadmium is
toxic in Reseda phyteuma, Matthiola longipetala and is
located in the normal Stipa tenuifolia.
Root parts
The concentration of trace elements in the root
parts are characterized by high levels of lead that are
about 198.1 mg / kg for Reseda phyteuma, 162.7 mg / kg
for Stipa tenuifolia and 106.7 mg / kg for Matthiola
longipetala. For Copper concentrations are respectively
18.57 mg / kg for Reseda phyteuma, 14.83 mg / kg for
Stipa tenuifolia and 13.97 mg / kg for Matthiola
longipetala. The Zinc content is in the order of 120.8
mg / kg for Reseda phyteuma 35.76 mg / kg for
Matthiola longipetala and 28.64 mg / Kg for Stipa
tenuifolia. In Reseda phyteuma Cadmium is present in
very high amount 1.96 mg / Kg than other species.
For Lead, it focuses advantage in the shoots of
Stipa tenuifolia, Reseda phyteuma and slightly less in
Matthiola longipetala, such results are consistent with
Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054 051
El himer et al., 2012
Concentration / element (mg / kg DM) Pb Cu Zn Cd
ETM concentration in aerial parts of
plants from Kabata-Pendias et al.,
(1992)
normal level 5-10 5-30 27-150 0.05-0.2

content of toxic

30-300

20-100

100-400

5-30
Table 2: Content of trace elements in the aerial parts of plants after Kabata-Pendias et al., (1992).
Figure 1: ETM concentration in the shoots
of the species studied.

0
40
80
120
160
200
240
280
Stipa tenuifolia Reseda phyteuma Matthiola longipetala
Espce
C
o
n
c
e
n
t
r
a
t
i
o
n

e
n

E
T
M

e
n

m
g
/
K
g
Pb Cu Zn Cd
Figure 2: Concentration ETM root in parts
of the species studied.
0
40
80
120
160
200
240
Stipa tenuifolia Reseda phyteuma Matthiola longipetala
Espce
C
o
n
c
e
n
t
r
a
t
i
o
n

e
n

E
T
M

e
n

m
g
/
K
g
Pb Cu Zn Cd


those of Baghdad, (2008) for other species harvested in
the same region. Leita et al., (1989) have shown that
concentrations of lead in cash flush mining areas were
ranged from 8 to 4036 mg / Kg.
For Zinc and Cadmium, they accumulate in the
aerial parts of Reseda phyteuma, this phenomenon was
also highlighted by Tremble-Schaub et al., (2005) who
showed that Zinc is concentrated more in roots than in
shoots.
For copper, it concentrates more in the shoots of
Stipa tenuifolia and Matthiola longipetala, and it has
almost the same concentrations in the roots than in shoot
of Reseda phyteuma. All the three species, accumulate
Lead and Cadmium in root parts thereof, for they
accumulate Zinc and Copper, in the aerial parts of
Reseda phyteuma and Stipa tenuifolia respectively. The
work of Baghdad, 2008 have shown that the levels of
Lead, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium (Table 3) in the mining
residue dumps are high and are 2490 mg / kg, 18.4 mg /
kg 148 mg / Kg and 2.1 mg / Kg respectively. These
different levels are reflected directly on the
concentrations found in the species studied. This allows
us to establish a direct relationship between residues and
plants that inhabit them.
The analysis of these results showed that the
concentration of elements trace metals in shoots and
roots depends on the concentration of trace metals in the
substrate, the species and the vegetative body. Indeed the
species Reseda phyteuma accumulates Lead, Zinc and
Cadmium both in the shoot and the root. While Stipa
tenuifolia and Matthiola longipetala focuses Lead and
Zinc in the root. Such results are consistent with the
work of (Adriano, 1986), (Alloway, 1990), (Alloway,
1995) (Martin et al., 1996) (Fleming et al., 1977), (Saidi,
2004) and (Baghdad, 2008). On the other hand the
analysis of certain elements such as Lead, Zinc and
Cadmium that accumulates in the root parts showed the
existence of a mechanism that blocks the passage of
certain elements to both above (Yoon et al., 2006).

CONCLUSION
The analysis of trace metals in the three species
showed high levels exceeding the standards established
by Kabata-Pendias et al., 1992. The content of Lead and
Cadmium in the roots of Stipa tenuifolia, Reseda
phyteuma and Matthiola longipetala reached high levels,
this accumulation is due to a mechanism for blocking the
passage of this element to the shoot parts. The lead
concentration is high in the shoots of the species studied,
however none of these species proved hyperaccumulator
but they are good examples of adaptation of plants to
high levels of ETM.
The growth of these species on soils rich ETM
implies the existence of a mechanism of tolerance to
heavy metals and will fight against wind erosion and
protect the biodiversity of the flora of the former mine
Zaida (High Moulouya, Morocco). The amount of heavy
metals absorbed by the species studied depends on the
species and its storing capacity in the plant body.
A study of the evolution of the concentration of
trace elements in metal compartments of each species
052 Journal of Research in Agriculture (2012) 1: 049-054
El himer et al., 2012
Item Pb Cu Zn Cd
Content (mg / Kg) 2490 18,4 148 2,1
Table 3: Levels of ETM in the dumps of the
abandoned mine Lead Zaida (High Moulouya,
Morocco) (Baghdad, 2008).
Photo 1: The three dumps of mine Zaida (High
Moulouya, Morocco) (Baghdad, 2008).
depending on the remoteness of the dumps are needed to
assess the hazard posed by this pollution to human
health, and will identify the advantage and behavior of
these species trace metals.

AKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This work falls under the thematic Program of
Support for Scientific Research PROTARS II (P23/32).
We thank El Kanit Abdelmoumen and the entire staff of
the Biotechnology Laboratory Fertilization and Special
Products Centre for Study and Research Spcial Mineral
of Phosphates (CERPHOS) in Casablanca, for
collaboration and for welcoming us to perform the
analyzes .

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