Effect of Soil Characteristics on Arsenic Accumulation in Phytolith of Gramineae ( Phragmites japonica ) and Fern ( Thelypteris palustris ) Near the Gilgok Gold Mine

Hyun-Gi Min, Min-Suk Kim and Jeong-Gyu Kim
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Hyun-Gi Min: Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Min-Suk Kim: OJEong Resilience Institute, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea
Jeong-Gyu Kim: Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, College of Life Science and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 6, 1-15

Abstract: In South Korea, most metal mines were abandoned and caused contamination for more than 30 years. Even the soil is highly contaminated with trace elements, plants still grow in the area and can affect the contamination. Phytolith is amorphous silica in the plant body. Phytolith is resistant to decomposition, and the stabilization of carbon, nutrients, and toxic substances accumulated in the phytolith is being studied. In this study, the Gilgok gold mine, which is contaminated with arsenic was selected as the research site. We selected Phragmites japonica and Thelypteris palustris as targets for the analysis of arsenic accumulation in plants and phytolith. Plants accumulate more phytolith at the riverside. The higher water content of soil increased the Arsenic (As) concentration in the frond of the T. palustris . Soil available silicon (Si) did not affect phytolith accumulation but increased As accumulation in the plant and phytolith. The research result showed that P. japonica and T. palustris have the ability to accumulate As in phytolith and the accumulation can be changed with soil characteristics and plant species. This As accumulation in phytolith can affect plant tolerance in contaminated areas and change the As availability in the soil. The result of the research can be used as a database to build a sustainable environment.

Keywords: arsenic; metal mine; phytolith; South Korea; silicate (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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