Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining area
Corn is a crucial crop in China and is widely cultivated in the mercury (Hg) mining region of Guizhou. This study analyzed the Hg content in soil and corn plant samples from the Wuchuan Hg mining area (WCMA) and the surrounding non-Hg mining regions (SNMR). The findings suggest that ongoing ecologic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-02-01
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| Series: | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324000393 |
| _version_ | 1797328840843853824 |
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| author | Dan Wang Zhonggen Li Qingfeng Wang |
| author_facet | Dan Wang Zhonggen Li Qingfeng Wang |
| author_sort | Dan Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Corn is a crucial crop in China and is widely cultivated in the mercury (Hg) mining region of Guizhou. This study analyzed the Hg content in soil and corn plant samples from the Wuchuan Hg mining area (WCMA) and the surrounding non-Hg mining regions (SNMR). The findings suggest that ongoing ecological rehabilitation and environmental conservation measures in the WCMA have significantly decreased the Hg content in corn kernels. The Hg concentration in different parts of the corn plant varied, being higher in the roots, tassels, and leaves and lower in kernels and stalks. Hg stored in corn plant growing in the WCMA primarily originates from the soil (55.4%), while in the SNMR, it mainly comes from the atmosphere (74.9%). Despite counted only about 7% of the total plant mass, corn roots play a crucial role in soil Hg pollution remediation when corn is used for remediation. Household corn residues burning release about 58.5% and 66.9% of the stored Hg in corn plants growing in the WCMA and the SNMR, respectively, into the atmosphere. Our findings indicate that corn cultivation acts as a reservoir for both soil and atmospheric Hg in the SNMR, while in the WCMA, it serves as a source of atmospheric Hg. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:56:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-42ebbfaf875b4935a0ff1a6e13c32ef8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 0147-6513 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T06:56:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
| spelling | doaj.art-42ebbfaf875b4935a0ff1a6e13c32ef82024-02-03T06:34:27ZengElsevierEcotoxicology and Environmental Safety0147-65132024-02-01271115964Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining areaDan Wang0Zhonggen Li1Qingfeng Wang2Department of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, ChinaDepartment of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, ChinaDepartment of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal College, Zunyi 563006, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, China; Correspondence to: Department of Resources and Environment, Zunyi Normal University, Middle Section of Ping An Avenue, Xinpu Town, Zunyi 563002, China.Corn is a crucial crop in China and is widely cultivated in the mercury (Hg) mining region of Guizhou. This study analyzed the Hg content in soil and corn plant samples from the Wuchuan Hg mining area (WCMA) and the surrounding non-Hg mining regions (SNMR). The findings suggest that ongoing ecological rehabilitation and environmental conservation measures in the WCMA have significantly decreased the Hg content in corn kernels. The Hg concentration in different parts of the corn plant varied, being higher in the roots, tassels, and leaves and lower in kernels and stalks. Hg stored in corn plant growing in the WCMA primarily originates from the soil (55.4%), while in the SNMR, it mainly comes from the atmosphere (74.9%). Despite counted only about 7% of the total plant mass, corn roots play a crucial role in soil Hg pollution remediation when corn is used for remediation. Household corn residues burning release about 58.5% and 66.9% of the stored Hg in corn plants growing in the WCMA and the SNMR, respectively, into the atmosphere. Our findings indicate that corn cultivation acts as a reservoir for both soil and atmospheric Hg in the SNMR, while in the WCMA, it serves as a source of atmospheric Hg.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324000393Corn plantsEcological restorationHg distributionHg distinctionWuchuan Hg mining area |
| spellingShingle | Dan Wang Zhonggen Li Qingfeng Wang Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining area Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Corn plants Ecological restoration Hg distribution Hg distinction Wuchuan Hg mining area |
| title | Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining area |
| title_full | Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining area |
| title_fullStr | Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining area |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining area |
| title_short | Ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural China – A case in Wuchuan mercury mining area |
| title_sort | ecological restoration reduces mercury in corn kernel and the distinction of mercury in corn plants in rural china a case in wuchuan mercury mining area |
| topic | Corn plants Ecological restoration Hg distribution Hg distinction Wuchuan Hg mining area |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651324000393 |
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