Quantification of potentially toxic elements in degraded mining soils and medicinal plants: a case study of Indus Kohistan region Northern Pakistan

In recent years, a series of environmental and ecological problems have occurred due to enhanced anthropogenic disturbances for precious mineral mining. Traditional medicines become an important pillar in national homeopathic treatment system, especially mountainous environment developing countries. The current study investigated the level potentially toxic elements’ (PTEs) contamination degraded mining soils medicinal plants along mafic–ultramafic rocks Kohistan region. Soil samples plant species were collected from areas screened PTEs (Pb, Cr, Ni, Mn, Zn Cd) using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS-Perkin-Elmer, 2380). Various pollution indices used such as factor (CF), load index (PLI) translocation (TF) plants. mean concentrations selected soil order Mn > Ni Cr Pb Cd, while following order: Cd. Highest bioaccumulation was observed Ajuga bracteosa (Cr = 349 mg kg–1), Phlomis (Pb 335 Chenopodium ambrosioides (Mn 304.3 Isatis costata (Ni 169 parviflora (Zn 38.4 kg–1) Salvia moorcoftiana (Cd 11 kg–1). Furthermore, significantly higher (p < 0.001) than reference site, which may be attributed open dumping wastes. present reveals that chromite wastes can cause serious area. grown pose risk local inhabitants most people consume these various health problems.