Determining the accumulation of heavy metals in soil and plants around mines and their bioavailability (case study: Nakhlak lead mine)

Mining and related activities has a several impact on the environment. Heavy elements enter the environment through mining, ore processing and tailings dams.plants adsorb heavy metals through the soil, and heavy metals entered the foodchain. Nakhlak lead mine is 2000 years old and is located in the east of Nain city. In this study, the amount of heavy metals in the soil around Nakhlak lead mine has been investigated. Accumulation of heavy metals in native plants of the region as well as their bioavailability has been determined. For this purpose, 10 stations were selected for sampling the soil of the mineral zone and 10 stations for the soil of the tailings dam and by using atomic absorption, the amount of heavy metals in them was investigated. Plants were sampled from the most polluted areas. Bioavailability was simulated using EDTA solution. Among the plants of Claire, oleander and sagebrush, the highest accumulation was seen in Claire. Cadmium was more bioavailable than all heavy metals.