Characterization and phytoremediation of abandoned contaminated mining area in Portugal by INAA

Abstract

This study aims to find out a vascular plant species that accumulate relatively high concentrations of arsenic (As) for its use as phytoremediator ar abandoned and contaminated mining areas, such as São Domingos mines (Portugal). The assessement of As contamination levels in soils and plants of other similar sites in the north of the coutry (Castromil ando Poço de Freitas) was also conducted and the sample analuses were made by instrumental neutron activation analusis. Agrostis genera have shown higher As transfer coefficients than other studied plants species and in particular Agrostis curtisii has shown a reasonable ability to accumulate high concentration of this toxic element.