<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The common dandelion (<italic>Taraxacum officinale</italic> Web.) is considered to be a good indicator species due to its wide spread and high tolerance to harsh environmental conditions. It was used in this study to assess contamination with selected heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd) within urban habitats of the city of Katowice (southern Poland). Samples were collected from outside the forest regions. Content of heavy metals was determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (F-AAS). The soil mineralization was conducted using 50,0 cm3 10% HNO3. Determination of elemental concentrations in the plant material was carried out with the “wet” method using heating blocks for a period of 7-10 days. The following concentration ranges for individual elements in soil were found: 14,03–2049,50 mg kg−1 (Pb), 17,91–4118,00 mg kg−1 (Zn), 0,25–52,93 mg kg−1 (Cd). Concentrations within the leaves of common dandelion were: 5,52–93,04 μg g−1 (Pb), 71,71–807,15 μg g−1 (Zn), 0,10–15,69 μg g−1 (Cd). Plants from the most heavily contaminated soils were characterised by the lowest bioaccumulation coefficient. The most contaminated areas were the districts: Szopienice-Burowiec and Wełnowiec-Józefowiec, while the least contaminated were the southern districts of Katowice (i.e. Zarzecze, Podlesie). There is also a clear link between the content of heavy metals in soils examined in this study and the land use.</abstract>

The common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Web.) is considered to be a good indicator species due to its wide spread and high tolerance to harsh environmental conditions. It was used in this study to assess contamination with selected heavy metals (Zn, Pb, Cd) within urban habitats of the city of Katowice (southern Poland). Samples were collected from outside the forest regions. Content of heavy metals was determined using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (F-AAS). The soil mineralization was conducted using 50,0 cm3 10% HNO3. Determination of elemental concentrations in the plant material was carried out with the “wet” method using heating blocks for a period of 7-10 days. The following concentration ranges for individual elements in soil were found: 14,03–2049,50 mg kg−1 (Pb), 17,91–4118,00 mg kg−1 (Zn), 0,25–52,93 mg kg−1 (Cd). Concentrations within the leaves of common dandelion were: 5,52–93,04 μg g−1 (Pb), 71,71–807,15 μg g−1 (Zn), 0,10–15,69 μg g−1 (Cd). Plants from the most heavily contaminated soils were characterised by the lowest bioaccumulation coefficient. The most contaminated areas were the districts: Szopienice-Burowiec and Wełnowiec-Józefowiec, while the least contaminated were the southern districts of Katowice (i.e. Zarzecze, Podlesie). There is also a clear link between the content of heavy metals in soils examined in this study and the land use.

An assessment of urban habitat contamination with selected heavy metals within the city of Katowice using the common dandelion (<italic>Taraxacum officinale</italic> Web.) as a bioindicator

Department of Applied Geology, Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, Będzińska Str. 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec, Poland

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

An assessment of urban habitat contamination with selected heavy metals within the city of Katowice using the common dandelion ( Web.) as a bioindicator

The common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Web.) is considered to be a good indicator species due to its wide spread and high tolerance to harsh environmental...

An assessment of urban habitat contamination with selected heavy metals within the city of Katowice using the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Web.) as a bioindicator

Published Online: Jun 27, 2015

Page range: 29 - 40

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/environ-2015-0021

Keywords
zinc, lead, cadmium, soil contamination, plant bioindicators

© University of Silesia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

An assessment of urban habitat contamination with selected heavy metals within the city of Katowice using the common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale Web.) as a bioindicator

Published Online: Jun 27, 2015

Page range: 29 - 40

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/environ-2015-0021

Keywordszinc, lead, cadmium, soil contamination, plant bioindicators

© University of Silesia

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
zinc, lead, cadmium, soil contamination, plant bioindicators