Studies on the uptake of heavy metals by selected plant species growing on coal mine spoils in sub-tropical regions of India

The accumulation of heavy metals in naturally occurring plants of herbs, shrubs and trees grown on South Bolanda coal mine overburdens in subtropical region of India were illustrated.. The inter-elemental relationships of different parts of five plant species including herbs, shrubs and trees with the coal mine wastes were studied. From the tree species maximum positive correlation was observed for Cu in stem and leaf of Trema orientalis. The stem and leaf of Haldina cordifolia, Diospyrous melanoxylon and Ixora arborea showed positive correlation for Cr, Fe and Cu respectively. Among the shrubs in Phyllanthus reticulatus, Cr in stem showed a positive correlation with Cr in leaf. Here among five species of annual herbs, the correlation coefficient for inter elemental variable of whole plant and coal mine spoil for chromium was marked in Catharanthus roseus. From the above investigation it was concluded that stabilization of coal mine spoils could be achieved successfully by the plantation of suitable plant species available in native area. [Journal of American Science. 2011;7(1):26-34]. (ISSN: 1545-1003).