Particle and heavy metal accumulation by two plant species in a coal mining area of Odisha, India

Abstract

Mining activities lead to severe particulate matter (PM) pollution that consequently has a detrimental effect on ecosystem. A study was therefore conducted in a coal mining area of Odisha, India with an objective to assess the particulate matter pollution on the basis of differential aerodynamic size (PM₁₀ and PM_2.5) of the particles, the metallic (Zn and Fe) composition, and also to evaluate their nature of deposition on two identified plant species. The results suggest a significant variation in particle and heavy metal fractions in the ambient air of different sites (p < 0.05). Fe dominated the finer particle (PM_2.5) fraction while Zn dominated the coarser counterpart (PM₁₀) in the ambient air. When evaluated for the particle and heavy metal deposition on leaf surface, Shorea robusta performed better in trapping the coarser particles (PM₁₀) while Holarrhena floribunda was found to be an efficient scrubber of the finer particles (PM_2.5). Fe deposition on surface of leaves was comparatively higher than Zn irrespective of plant species or size fractions. Therefore, it is concluded that both S. robusta and H. floribunda should be planted in a schematic manner to tackle the particulate pollution in coal mining areas.

Keywords:

• Heavy metal deposition
• particle pollution
• particulate matter
• phyto-remediation

Data availability statement

All data associated with this study have been reported in this manuscript and available with the author on request.