Concentration and bioavailability of toxic trace elements, germanium, and rare earth elements in contaminated areas of the Davidschacht dump-field in Freiberg (Saxony)

Midula, Pavol, 1989-

Concentration and bioavailability of toxic trace elements, germanium, and rare earth elements in contaminated areas of the Davidschacht dump-field in Freiberg (Saxony) = Konzentration und Bioverfügbarkeit von Schwermetallen, Germanium und Seltenen Erdmetallen in kontaminierten Substraten der Spülhalde Davidschacht in Freiberg (Sachsen) / Pavol Midula ... [et al.]. -- The presented research is focused on the geochemical characterization of substrates of the Davidschacht dump-field in order to elucidate plant available concentrations of selected toxic trace elements (As, Zn, Cd, Pb), Ge, and rare earth elements (La, Nd, Gd). In total, 12 sampling sites with different composition of plant species were selected. Soil samples from a depth of 10 cm and samples of plant material were taken at each of these sites. The soil samples were analyzed for total concentrations of elements, pH (H2O) and element concentrations in four operationally defined soil fractions. Element concentrations in soil extracts and plant digests were measured by ICP-MS. Our results show that besides high concentrations of toxic trace elements, the substrates are characterized by high concentrations of Ge (up to 8 mg kg-1), but only moderate concentrations of REEs. The pH of the substrates correlated significantly positively with the total concentrations of all investigated elements, except of As and Pb. Potentially plant available concentrations decreased in the order Cd > Zn > As > Pb > >REEs > Ge. However, highest concentrations of Ge were found in Phragmites australis (0.63 mg kg-1 Ge) and Phalaris arundinacea (0.57 mg kg-1 Ge), whereas Populus tremula, Tanacetum vulgare, Lotus corniculatus and Agrostis capillaris showed high concentrations of toxic trace elements and rare earth elements

In Freiberg ecology online. -- Freiberg : University of Resources, 2017. -- ISSN 2366-9551. -- online, vol. 1, no. 2 (2017), pp. 101-112