Abstract

The pollution and contamination assessment of three heavy metals (Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the topsoil, and common plants (Olea europaea, Prunus persica vulgaris, Ficus carica, Medicago sativa, Zygophyllum album, and Helianthemum kahiricum) were carried out at different distances from a cement plant. This evaluation was based on four evaluation methods: Bioconcentration factor, Contamination factor, Geoaccumulation Index and Potential ecological risk factor. The chlorophylls a and b contents were also analyzed. The highest levels of Cu, Zn, and Pb in the topsoil were found close to the cement factory (cluster D), and the lowest values were observed in a distant oasis (cluster H). The lowest chlorophylls values were observed in perennial plants (O. europaea and F. carica) near the cement plant. Zygophyllum album and H. kahiricum showed capability to remove Cu an Zn in contaminated locations, depending on the soil type. The spatialization of the results was essential to the understanding of the potential contribution of different sources of Cu, Zn, and Pb in the topsoil and to distinguishing different behaviors of the same plant species. Concerning H. kahiricum, further research should be undertaken since it has a high livestock acceptability index and is used in traditional medicine.

Novelty statement The impact of three heavy metals (Cu, Zn, and Pb) on the topsoil and six species of plants common in Tunisia (arid climate) will be assessed, and the potential contribution of different sources to the contamination. Few studies have addressed the impact of cement dust in the topsoil and common plant species in arid rangelands, and, as far as we know, none of them have considered the spatialization of the data and results, considering the prevailing wind, plant species location, soil type, and use. Moreover, the ability of steppic vegetation to remove these three heavy metals (phytoextraction) was evaluated using the bioconcentration factor (BCF), soil pollution indices, and ecological risk. Chlorophylls a and b contents were also evaluated to establish the effect of the cement plant on the health of plants located nearby.

摘要

表土和常见植物（油橄榄，樱桃桃，榕树，紫花苜蓿，霸王菊和向日葵）中三种重金属（铜，铅和锌）的污染和污染评估。）在距水泥厂不同距离处进行。该评估基于四种评估方法：生物富集因子，污染因子，地积累指数和潜在生态风险因子。还分析了叶绿素a和b的含量。在靠近水泥厂（D组）的表层土壤中发现了最高的Cu，Zn和Pb含量，而在遥远的绿洲（H组）中发现的最低含量。在水泥厂附近的多年生植物（欧罗巴和欧亚锦葵）中观察到最低的叶绿素值。霸王专辑和H. kahiricum表现出根据土壤类型在受污染位置去除Cu和Zn的能力。结果的空间化对于理解表土中不同来源的铜，锌和铅的潜在贡献以及区分同一植物物种的不同行为至关重要。关于kahiricum，由于它具有较高的家畜可接受性指数并且用于传统医学中，因此应进行进一步的研究。

新颖性声明将评估三种重金属（铜，锌和铅）对突尼斯（干旱气候）常见的表层土壤和六种常见植物的影响，以及不同来源对污染的潜在影响。很少有研究解决水泥粉尘对干旱牧场表层土壤和常见植物物种的影响，据我们所知，考虑到盛行风，植物物种的位置，没有人考虑到数据和结果的空间分布，土壤类型和用途。此外，利用生物富集因子（BCF），土壤污染指数和生态风险评估了草原植被去除这三种重金属的能力（植物提取）。还评估了叶绿素a和b的含量，以确定水泥植物对附近植物健康的影响。