PHYTOREMEDIATION OF SITES CONTAMINATED WITH INDUSTRIAL AND
MINING BY-PRODUCTS CONTAINING HEAVY METALS
Contract number: OMFB-02453/2000 (BIO-055/2000)
Starting date: May 2000.
Duration: 3 years
Total cost: 28,6 M HUF
OM contribution: 13 M HUF
Acronym: Phytoremediation
BACKGROUND
The aim of our research is to develop a phytoremediation-phytostabilization technology
applicable on sites contaminated with mining and industrial by-products containing heavy
metals. As a representative experimental site an area contaminated with heavy metals located
in Gyöngyösoroszi has been chosen since by-products resulted from different mining
technologies and the soil, topographical, hydrological and botanical characteristics of the site
are inhomogeneous. Realisation of the aims is even more complicated due to the absence of
special examination protocol, the extent of the area as well as quantitative questions regarding
to the contamination. The developed technology can be adapted for other sites to reduce the
environmental risk resulting from mining spoils and industrial sludge, because numerous sites
contaminated with heavy metals similar to that of Gyöngyösoroszi are in Hungary the cleanup of which has not been solved.
OBJECTIVES
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To identify phyto-associations having ability to stand extreme heavy metal concentrations
and being hyperaccumulators as a result of species selection on the experimental area;
To measure the parameters referring to stress toleration and to develop a phytotoxic scale;
To develop a terrain model with GIS technique to represent the relationship between plant
associations as potential environmental indicators and contaminants;
To work out a soil conditioning process to support optimal soil physical and water
management conditions with the application of which the ecosystems applicable for
phytostabilisation and phytoextraction can be self-supporting;
To give technical alternatives (earth works, bench stabilisation, hindrance of infiltration
and runoff) taking into consideration the topographical, hydrological and geological
conditions, on which the successful application of phytostabilisation is based.
To propose a complex phytostabilisation technology on the base of results referring to the
experimental area with optimised technical and soil melioration solution and optimised
plant associations as well as monitoring system.
DESCRIPTION
Environmental status assessment method will be developed using GPS/GIS technique and
geo-statistical methods for qualitative and quantitative characterisation of sites having
inhomogeneous contamination. Measuring the heavy metal content of the soil and plant
samples contamination, soil and plant models will be developed and the correlation between
contamination and vegetation will be examined. The method allows the identification and
selection of phyto-associations having ability to stand extreme heavy metal concentrations
and that of potential hyperaccumulators, indicators and excluders, with the help of which
phytoextraction and phytostabilisation can be carried out. Heavy metal mobilisation, bioavailability and up-take by plants will be examined with soil columns and lysimeters under
different physical and chemical interventions. As a result, the efficiency and applicability of
the technology will be examined using plant associations adapted to the experimental area
with adequate soil modifications.
CURRENT SITUATION/RESULTS
The extent and distribution of the contamination has been estimated at the experimental area
contaminated with heavy metals. Instead of general soil sampling strategy referring to
contaminated soils geo-statistical method adapted to the site and precision measuring
technique with DGPS have been used to reveal the spatial inhomogenity. The spatial
impoundment of heavy metal contamination has been carried out at the site on the base of
which contaminants exceed the limit values according to directive 10/2000. (VI. 2.) referring
to total acceptable metal contents of soils. On the experimental site as model area
environmental status assessment protocol has been worked out on the base of results gained
using GPS, which is generally suitable for qualitative and quantitative characterisation of
heavy metal contamination of soils or by-products of mining and industrial activities. In
addition, the potentially bio-available contents of heavy metals for plants and their spatial
distribution have been measured. Ceonological survey and qualification of associations have
also been carried out on the sampling area. The soil column and lysimeter experiments for the
examination of stress tolerance of plants has been started.
COORDINATOR
Pál Draskovits
Envirokomplex Environmental and
Water Management Ltd.
H-1145 Budapest, Kolumbusz u. 17-23.
Tel.: 1 3637 231
Fax: 1 4670 188
PARTNERS
Dr. habil János Tamás
University of Debrecen, Centre of
Agricultural Sciences, Dept. of Water and
Environmental Management
H-4032 Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138.
Tel./fax: 52 508 456
tamas@gisserver1.date.hu
Prof. Dr. Zoltán Győri
University of Debrecen, Centre of
Agricultural Sciences, Central Chemical
Laboratory
H-4032 Debrecen, Böszörményi út 138.
Tel.: 52 486 288 / 8067
Fax: 52 413 385
Dr. Gyula Lakatos
University of Debrecen, Faculty of Natural
Sciences, Dept. of Applied Ecology
H-4032 Debrecen, Egyetem tér 1.
Tel.: 52 316 666 / 2618
Fax: 52 310 936