The Influence of Zn and Cd Accumulation on the Growth and Development of Medicinal Plants in the Impact Zone of the Novocherkassk Power Station

Over the pastdecade, particular attention has been paid to studies of the chemical composition of medical plants to identify the possible negative consequences of using raw plant material polluted with heavy metals for the production of medical drugs. In our study, we analyzed the chemical composition of the medical plants growing in the impact area of the Novocherkassk power station. Specifically, the plants Artemisia austriaca, Poa pratensis and Elytrigia repenswere examined for the analysis.The content and distribution of Zn and Cd, which are most distributed in industrial emissions and belong to the first class of hazardous elements, were measured. The maximum permissible content (MPC) of Zn in the raw material of Artemisia austriaca and Elytrigia repens was found, as was the maximum content of Cd in all analyzed plants growing in the 5km area around thepower station. The plant Artemisia austriacawasfound to have Zn and Cd accumulation in itsabovegroundcomponents, while in Poa pratensis and Elytrigia repens, accumulation was in the roots. The morphobiometric parameters of the plants were mostly dependent on the soil properties, followed by the degree of technogenic load. The content of Zn and Cd in the medical drugs was higher than the MPC without visible features of heavy metal pollution and so these plants weredangerous for human health. Keywords: heavy metals, technogenic load, phytoreagents, morphometric parameter

Assessment of the Soil Buffer Capacity in the Sea of Azov Basin Under Heavy Metal Pollution

Heavy metals (HM) are among the most hazardous soil pollutants. The intensity of accumulation and distribution of HM in soils directly depends on the ecological conditions of pedogenesis and its buffering properties. At the same time, a significant accumulation of HM in the soil as a result of anthropogenic impacts reduces the buffering capacity of the soil and its resistance to pollution. The purpose of this work was to assess the buffering capacity of soils to HM pollution in the Don River delta and the coast of the Taganrog Bay of the Sea of Azov undergoing the great anthropogenic impact. The buffer capacity of experimental soils was carried out using the Il’in’s method (1995), based on the calculation of the inactivation ability of soils: organic matter, clay fraction (particle size < 0.01 mm), carbonates, sesquioxides, and pH. The content of HM was compared with soil Clarke and the maximum permissible concentration of HM in soils accepted in the Russian Federation. It was found that the experimental soils could be ordered by buffer capacity value as following (in decreasing order): haplic chernozem ≥ alluvial-meadow light loamy ≥ solonchak > alluvial-meadow sandy and sandy loamy > sandy primitive soil ≥ stratified alluvial soil. Keywords: trace elements, contamination, impact territorie

Assessment of the combined effect of heavy metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons on the cultural plants

The environmental contamination by heavy metals (HM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is often due to exposure to complex sources of industrial and agricultural activities. The aim of the work is to evaluate the combined effect of CuO and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) on the state of spring barley plants. It was established that the soil combined pollution by CuO and BaP has a negative effect on all morphobiometric parameters of barley. The most sensitive indicators of combined contamination are the length of the roots, the mass of 1000 grains and the yield of barley

Zinc and cadmium accumulation in different parts of wild plants of the

The regularities of the accumulation and distribution of metals (Zn and Cd) in various parts of wild herbaceous plants and the agricultural crop of the impact zone in Rostov region (Russia) was considered. A large accumulation of elements in wild herbaceous plants of the Asteraceae family was noted compared with Triticum aestivum. The pollution of Triticum aestivum by Cd was observed. Wild herbaceous plants of the Asteraceae family were contaminated mostly with Zn. It was found that Artemisia austriaca and Ambrosia artemisiifolia accumulated Zn and Cd in the aboveground part. Achillea nobilis accumulated Cd mainly in the root system. Closer location monitoring plots to the source of anthropogenic load and the location of the northwest winds prevailing in the region were main influencing factors leading to higher pollution

Simulation of the dynamic processes of a low-capacity combine harvester movement

To automate the process of harvesting crops, different types of harvesting machines are required. The most common type of machines used to automate ingathering are harvesters. The use of harvesters for collecting grain crops is rational in fields from 2 hectares. On smaller areas it is not profitable and difficult to apply. For applications in small areas, low-capacity harvesters with a throughput of the thresher up to 1 kg/s (small-sized) may be suitable. The purpose of this study is to analyze the cushioning mass control system of a low-capacity unmanned combine harvester using computer simulation, as well as the simulation of directional stability and turning. To calculate vertical vibrations in the Matlab/Simulink software package, a model of a cushioning system for a wheeled agricultural combine was prepared. In the same software package, simulation of directional stability and turning implementation was carried out. The parameters of vibration displacement, vibration velocity and acceleration, as well as the vibration frequency indicators on the operator's seat are determined. Comparison of the simulation results of the initial and corrected direction of movement of the harvester showed that for this model the maximum deviation from the planned path is a maximum of 10%, which is within acceptable limits. The maximum deviation of the harvester from the course does not exceed the permissible values, which is acceptable accuracy to ensure directional stability

Content of heavy metals in Haplic Chernozem under conditions of agrogenesis

The paper presents the results of a long-term study on the content and distribution of heavy metals in Haplic Chernozem of agrocenoses in southern zone of Rostov Region. The impact of various agricultural technologies traditional (using moldboard ploughing) and resource-saving (minimum and No-till) on accumulation and mobility of Pb, Zn, Cu in Haplic Chernozem in winter wheat cultivation is considered. The total content of Pb, Zn, Cu in the winter wheat areas corresponds to the background level and does not exceed permissible concentrations. Low mobility of elements (Pb 2.0-3.0%; Zn and Cu up to 1.0% as a percentage of their total forms) is a regional soil feature. In addition, the low availability of Zn and Cu in soils is due to their removal with the crops in the absence of micronutrient fertilizer replenishment. The significant role of soil organic matter in the accumulation of both total and mobile forms of heavy metals in soil has been confirmed. The intensity of the cultivation methods used has a significant effect on the total content of Zn, Cu and on the mobility of Pb, Zn, Cu in Haplic Chernozem

The Content of Heavy Metals in Medicinal Plants in Various Environmental Conditions: A Review

Nowadays people are becoming poisoned through the consumption of herbal remedies that comprise heavy metals (HMs) worldwide. It is possible for HMs to be present in pharmaceutical herb materials coming from anthropogenic activities like agriculture, industrial waste, and natural sources. In various ethnic groups, there is evidence that contaminants were purposefully added in the belief that they had some sort of therapeutic benefit. HM toxicity of medicinal plant products has been linked to a wide range of adverse health effects, causing dysfunction of the liver, kidney, and heart, and even death. Natural plant-based products established around the world have progressed to the point that they now combine a variety of synthetic products for their purported medical benefits. This assessment focuses on the impacts of HMs on plants, sources of HMs, herbal sample collection, and identification techniques, especially in medicinal plant samples. At the same time, it focuses on the sociocultural applications of HMs as well as the dangers associated with their usage in conventional therapies. It is necessary to implement appropriate regulation and monitoring systems for natural supplements due to the prevalence of hazardous HMs

Responses of Spring Barley to Zn- and Cd-Induced Stress: Morphometric Analysis and Cytotoxicity Assay

Heavy metals such as cadmium (Cd) and zinc (Zn) could be dangerous and pollute the environment due to their high migration ability, robust bioavailability, and acute toxicity to soil biota and plants. Considering the above characteristics of these elements, the study’s aim was to explore the individual and combined impact of Cd and Zn contamination of Haplic Chernozem on growing two-row spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The accumulation and distribution of Cd and Zn in various parts of H. vulgare have also been studied, which showed that Cd accumulation by H. vulgare occurred more intensely than that by Zn up to eight times. Cadmium and Zn suppress plant growth up to two times, more effect was noted by the combined impact of Cd and Zn. The study of plant morphological characteristics revealed that growth suppression and structural changes in the root and leaf tissues increased in proportion to Cd and Zn concentrations. Detailed analysis of the localizations of Zn and Cd in various organelles of H. vulgare cells was performed. Heavy metals change the ultrastructure of prominent energy-producing organelles in leaf cells, especially chloroplasts and mitochondria. Overall, the current findings offer insights into phytotoxicity induced by Cd and Zn individual application as well as in combination with the H. vulgare plant. Zinc showed protective effects against high doses of Cd under the combined application. These antagonistic interactions reduce their accessibility to H. vulgare. The present work can be useful in restricting the entry of these elements into the food chain and preventing creating a threat to human health

The Morphological and Functional Organization of Cattails <em>Typha laxmannii</em> Lepech. and <em>Typha australis</em> Schum. and Thonn. under Soil Pollution by Potentially Toxic Elements

The aim of this study is to investigate the adaptation of two species of cattail Typha australis Schum. and Thonn. and Typha laxmannii Lepech. based on analysis of the morphological and anatomical features of their vegetative and generative organs to soil pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the riparian zones of the sea edge of the Don River delta (Southern Russia). Both species of the cattail are able to accumulate high concentrations of Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb and can be used for phytoremediation of polluted territories. The pattern of PTE accumulation in hydrophytes has changed on polluted soils of coastal areas from roots/rhizomes > inflorescences > stems to roots/rhizomes > stems ≥ inflorescences. The comparative morphological and anatomical analysis showed a statistically significant effect of the environmental stress factor by the type of proliferation in T. australis, and species T. laxmannii was visually in a depressed, deformed state with mass manifestations of hypogenesis. These deformations should be considered, on one hand, as adaptive, but on the other, as pathological changes in the structure of the spikes of the cattails. Light-optical and electron microscopic studies have shown that the degree and nature of ultrastructural changes in cattails at the same level of soil pollution are different and most expressed in the assimilation tissue of leaves. However, these changes were destructive for T. australis, but for T. laxmannii, these indicated a high level of adaptation to the prolonged technogenic impact of PTE