Distribution of chromium, nickel, and cobalt in different parts of plant species and soil in mining area of Keban, Turkey

The distribution of chromium, nickel, and cobalt in the plant species and soil of the Zn-Pb-Ag sulfide deposits of the Keban area in Turkey have been studied to determine both biogeochemical indicators and biomonitoring of environmental pollution. Plants, including Euphorbia, Verbascum , and Astragalus , and their associated soil samples were collected, and the roots and shoots of these plants together with soils were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The three metal concentrations in the shoots of Euphorbia samples were found to be lower than in their roots, whereas the metal concentrations in shoots of Verbascum are higher than in their roots. Although the metal concentrations in soils were found to be lower than the permissible limits for agricultural purposes, the concentrations of these metals in different parts of some plants were observed at excessive/toxic levels. As a result, the roots of Euphorbia and the shoots of Verbascum and Astragalus can be used to biomonitor environmental contamination and as biogeochemical indicators.