Determination of mercury in the wild plants with their soils along Indus, Gilgit and Hunza rivers
Keywords:
Mercury; Contamination; Wild plants; Soil; EnvironmentAbstract
This article emphasizes on mercury (Hg) and its negative effects on wild plants and soil of these plants. Hg is highly demanded element because of its multiple uses as the most dangerous element for both environment and human. Not only biotic but also nonliving things can be exposed to Hg contamination. This article investigated the concentrations of Hg in wild plants and their soil samples along the three rivers including Giligt, Hunza and Indus of Northern areas of Pakistan. Natural and anthropogenic sources of Hg are present on the earth crust. Small-scale gold mining exists along these rivers and contribute in the emission of Hg in the environment through amalgamation and roasting process for gold separation from the sediments. This study based on terrestrial environment including wild plants with their soil. Almost 75-80 % samples in plants showed the higher Hg contamination, while 99% soil samples showed the higher Hg concentrations. The results indicated that the mean concentrations were 27.01µg/kg and 214.31 µg/kg for plants and soil, respectively. These findings indicated the presence of Hg in the study area and contamination of soil and wild plant samples.
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