Vol. 5 (1996): 9<l-147.

Uptake of heavy metals by plants from airborne
deposition and polluted soils

Toivo Yläranta
Agricultural Research Centre ofFinland. Institute ofSoils and Environment, FIN-31600 Jokioinen, Finland

The concentrations of sulphur, zinc, copper, lead and cadmium in spring wheat grain and straw, Ital-
ian rye grass, timothy and lettuce were studied in a three-year field experiment conducted in southern
Finland near a copper-nickel smelter and at nonpolluted control sites.

A pot experiment with copper- and nickel-contaminated soils and with a nonpolluted soil as the
control was conducted to determine the copper and nickel concentrations in soils phytotoxic for plants.
Forty, 200 or 1000 mg of copper or nickel as cloride was added to 2 litres of soil. The nickel and
copper concentrations in the shoots of oats were measured.

The zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and nickel concentrations varied between different plant species
and also between experimental years.

Near the smelter, the uptake of nickel by different plant species was very effective, as was copper
uptake by lettuce, timothy and Italian rye grass. The same applied to the zinc and cadmium uptake of
plants grown on plots. Nickel, cadmium and copper were easily accumulated by plants from air de-
position.

In the pot experiment, high nickel concentrations in soil were more phytotoxic for oats than were
high copper concentrations. In acidic soil, nickel and copper concentrations lower than 20 and 100
mg/kg of soil, respectively, decreased the dry matter yield of oats shoots. Liming clearly decreased
copper and nickel phytotoxity. In the most highly contaminated soil, the addition of Cu 20 mg/kg of
soil decreased the yield of oats shoots.

Key words', pollution, bulk deposition, dry deposition, copper-nickel smelter

ntroduction
The most pronounced form of pollution from the
metallurgical industry comprises emissions to
the atmosphere. There is, however, a scarcity of
information on the proportion of elements in de-

position that is accumulated by plants from the
air direct and the proportion taken up from the
soil on which they grow.

In Finland, there are only a few places where
heavy metal emissions are high enough to cause
problems for agricultural plant production. One
of these is the Outokumpu works at Harjavalta,

© Agricultural and Food Science inFinland
Manuscript received July 1996

431

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



southwestern Finland. The main heavy metal
source at the Harjavalta Works is a copper-nick-
el smelter. In the 1980 s it accounted for about
1% of the worldproduction of copper and 2% of
that of nickel. At the same time the total annual
emissions of some elements and S0

2 were as
follows: SO, 7500 t, particles 2200 t, Cu 300 t,
Ni 70 t, Zn 200 t, Pb 50 t and Cd 1.9 t (Provin-
cial Government of Turku & Pori). The emis-
sions were partly stack and partly non-point
emissions. There were also some other smaller
industrial emission sources of SO, and heavy
metals.

The purpose of this study was to determine
the accumulation by plants ofheavy metals from
airborne deposition and polluted soils. The Har-
javalta Works were established in 1945 but both
production capacity and production methods
have changed many times since then. Thus, the
adjacent soils have been receiving heavy metals
over a period of five decades.

The experiments were carried out at Harja-
valta and at nonpolluted control sites at Jokioi-
nen in 1985, 1986 and 1988. Further information
was collected with a pot experiment conducted
in polluted Harjavalta soil and nonpolluted con-
trol soil in 1990. In the latter experiment copper
and nickel, the elements causing the heaviest
pollution of Harjavalta soils, were added to the
soils in concentrations intended to yield phyto-
toxic copper and nickel levels.

Material and methods

Experimental fields
The experiment was carried out in 1985 and 1986
at seven experimental sites in southern Finland.
Two of these were reference sites located at
Jokioinen, in a clean rural area close to the Ag-
ricultural Research Centre of Finland:

JOKO (60°48’N, 23°28’E) and
JOKN (60°52’N, 23°27'E)

The other five experimental sites were near
the Outokumpu works (6l°l9’N, 22°08’E) at
Harjavalta (TAM, POH, PAP and TUP) and at
Kokemäki (SAT) 90-100 km northwest of
Jokioinen:

TAM 800 m from the smelter to 91°
POH 1300 m to 312°
PAP 2700 m to 132°
TUP 4400 m to 117°
SAT 8500 m to 126°
In 1988, the experiment was carried out at

three sites only:
JOKA (60°48’N, 23°28’E) at Jokioinen
TAMI 800 m from the Harjavalta smelter to 91°

and
JOHA 1500 m from the smelter to 51
In 1988, a new experimental site, JOHA, was

established for the collection of data on the ef-
fect of different wind directions from the Har-
javaltaWorks on the heavy metal concentrations
of plants.

Plots without any replicates, 3 x 3 m 2 in size
and growing spring wheat (Triticum aestivum,
cv. Ruso), timothy (Phleum pratense, cv. Tarmo),
Italian rye grass (Lolium multiflorum L., cv.
Amenda) or Australian lettuce (Lactuca saliva),
were established at each experimental site. A
schematic diagram of the experimental field has
been presented by Yläranta (1995).

The plough layer (0-25 cm) of experimental
soils was sandy except at POH, where it was
loam, and at JOK, where it was sandy clay loam
(Table 1). On JOKO, JOKN, JOKA and POH
fields, the particle size distribution was finer and
in other fields coarser in the deeper layer (25-
60 cm) than in the plough layer.

Yläranta (1995) has described the use ofpots
on the plots and the fertilization, management
and harvest techniques of the experimental
plants. Timothy was sown and managed like Ital-
ian rye grass. In 1985 and 1986, rye grass and
timothy were cut three times. Lettuce was sown
and harvested twice in both years. On JOKA,
TAMI and JOHA fields one wheat and lettuce
yield and three rye grass yields were harvested
in 1988.

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Yläranta, T. Uptake ofheavy metals by plants from airborne deposition and polluted soils



Vol. 5 (1996): 431-447.

Table I. Soil sample means (0-25 cm) of different experimental sites and pots for pH(CaCI2
), organic

carbon content (OC, %) and particle size distribution (clay <0.002, silt 0.(X)2-0.02, fine sand 0.02-0.2 and
coarse sand 0.2-2 mm) at experimental sites in 1985 and 1986, 1988 and 1990 (pot experiment).

Sand
pH OC Clay Silt Fine Coarse

1985 and 1986
JOKO 5.9 1.8 18 10 34 38
JOKN 5.7 2.0 9 5 62 24
TAM 6.0 2.6 4 7 63 26
POH 4.9 2.8 27 36 19 18
PAP 5.3 2.5 8 14 62 16
TUP 6.7 2.0 5 13 51 31
SAT 5.8 1.7 10 14 72 1
1988
JOKA 6.3 2.8 26 16 26 23
TAMI 5.7 2.5 3 7 63 27
JOHA 5.8 1.5 4 7 73 16
Pot soils
Sandy soil 5.8 6.1 5 6 62 27
Carex peat 6.0 37

1990
Pot experiment
EPO 4.2 4.3 39 20 38 3
PAP 4.9 2.5 8 15 63 15
TAM 5.6 2.6 4 8 56 33

Deposition Sampling and
■ •■iianaiyticai metnoas

Two NILU (Norsk Institut for Luftforskning,
Lillestrom, Norway) deposit gauges with 2-litre
bottles, one for nitrogen (NSP) and one for sul-
phur, phosphorus and the heavy metals zinc, cop-
per, lead, cadmium and nickel (ME), were placed
on each experimental field. In 1988, dry deposi-
tion was collected at TAMI on a 47-mm teflon
filter from June 21 to September 27 (Millipore
FALPO47OO, pore size 1 |im).

The zinc, copper, lead, cadmium and nickel
in the experimental soils were extracted with acid
ammonium acetate-EDTA and aqua regia and
analysed with ICP-AES (Zn, Cu) and ET-AAS
(Pb, Cd, Ni). The zinc, copper, calcium, magne-

sium, potassium and phosphorus concentrations
in the plant samples were determined with ICP-
AES and the concentrations of iead, cadmium
and nickel with ET-AAS.

Total nitrogen in deposition was determined
on NSP samples, and sulphur, phosphorus, zinc,
copper, nickel, lead and cadmium were deter-
mined on ME samples.

The dry deposition of sulphur, zinc, copper,
lead, cadmium and nickel on the teflon filters
was determined on the HNO,-H 202 -HCI diges-
tion solution, that of lead and cadmium with ET-
AAS and that of other elements with ICP-AES.

Yläranta (1995) has decribed the bulk and dry
deposition sampling and analytical methods in
detail. The analytical laboratory that carried out
the elemental analysis is participating in the
European intercalibration network, EC/BCR.

433



Pot experiment
Two litres of wet EPO clay soil (1672 g of dry
matter. Table 1) and 2500 g of wet sandy PAP
and TAM soils (2033 g of dry matter) were
weighed into 3-litre HD polyethylene pots. TAM
and PAP soils were taken from the fields where
the TAM, TAMI and PAP field experiments were
carried out; EPO soil was taken from a nonpol-
luted field in a rural area 250 km north of Jokioi-
nen.

There were four replicates, the experimental
plan being as follows:

1. Control, no Cu or Ni addition
2. Cu addition, 40 mg/pot
3. Cu 200 mg
4. Cu 1000 mg
5. Ni addition, 40 mg/pot
6. Ni 200 mg
7. Ni 1000 mg

In addition, the treatments in EPO soils were
limed with Ca(OH) 2 to increase the pH(CaCl 2

)

by 1.5 pH unit (Mäntylahti and Yläranta 1980).
The total number of pots in the experiment was
112.

The fertilizers mixed into the whole amount
of soil in the pot were pure chemicals
(Merck, p.a.) dissolved in deionized water as
follows;

N 470 mg (NH 4 ) 2 HP0 4 , NH4 NO,
P 80 mg (NH 4 )2 HP0 4
K 350 mg KCI, K,S0 4
Mg 90 mg MgCl, x 6H,0
Ca 60 mg CaCl 2 x 2H,0
S 80 mg K,S0 4, MnS04 x H,O.

ZnSO, x 7H,0,4 2
CuSO, x 5H,04 2

Mn 3.3 mg MnS04 x H 2 O
Zn 2.3 mg ZnS04 x 7H.0
Cu 2.6 mg CuS04 x 5H,0
Fe 2.0 mg FeNa-EDTA
Mo 0.4 mg Na,Mo0 4 x H.O
B 0.4 mg H 4BO,
From each pot, 250 ml of soil was put aside

and 20 ml ofcopper or nickel solution was mixed

with the rest of the soil. Copper and nickel solu-
tions were prepared from pure chemicals
(Merck p.a.), Cu from CuCl2 x 2H,0 and Ni from
NiClj x 6H

2
0. Seventeen seeds of oats (cv. Veli)

were sown on May 29,1990 in each pot and cov-
ered with 250 ml of soil. The shoots of oats were
cut on July 9, 1990,dried at 60°C and ground in
a hammer mill.

Results and discussion

Soil characteristics
The concentrations of HAAC-EDTA-extractable
zinc, copper, lead and nickel were notably low-
er in the unpolluted soils (JOKO, JOKN and
JOKA) than in the other experimental soils (Ta-
ble 2). The concentrations of zinc, copper and
nickel were clearly higher at Harjavalta, near the
copper-nickel smelter (TAM. POH, PAP, TAMI
and JOHA) than in uncontaminated Finnish soils
(Erviö et al. 1990). The lead concentrations in
Harjavalta soils were likewise mostly higher than
those in Finnish soils on average. Some copper
pollution from the Harjavalta smelter can also
be seen in the top layer of POH soil (Table 2).
Moreover the concentration ofcadmium is high-
er in the soils at Harjavalta than in uncontami-
nated soils. However, the high heavy metal con-
centrations were recorded only in the top soil
(0-25 cm), implying that only a small fraction
of the deposited metals had been leached and
accumulated under the plough layer.

Aqua regia (AR) extracts the heavy metals
in soils almost totally. The AR values of zinc
and copper in polluted Harjavalta soils were
clearly higher than those in “clean” JOKN soils.
Element concentrations in fine-textured soils are
commonly higher than those in coarse mineral
soils. The higher clay content of JOKO and
JOKA soils may explain why their zinc concen-
trations were higher than those in TAM soil. The
sampling sites TAM and TAMI were close to
each other. Thus only a large natural variation

434

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Yläranta, T. Uptake ofheavy metals by plantsfrom airborne deposition and polluted soils



Vol. 5 (1996): 431^t47.

Table 2. Soil sample means for HAAC-EDTA and aqua regia-extractable Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni (mg/kg of dry soil).

Site Layer, HAAC-EDTA AQUA REGIA
cm Zn Cu Pb Cd Ni Zn Cu Pb Cd Ni

1985,1986
JOKO 0-25 2.3 3.3 2.3 0.16 0.8 55 16 8 0.56 21

25-50 0.7 3.0 2.2 0.32 1.2
JOKN 0-25 0.9 1.3 2.7 0.14 0.8 13 8 9 0.26 13

25-50 0.2 0.6 0.6 0.08 0.2
TAM 0-25 16 190 8.5 0.60 17 61 260 17 0.79 17

25-50 3.5 18 1.5 0.12 1.0
POH 0-25 9.9 82 5.1 0.42 12 116 161 22 0.58 40

25-50 0.8 2.9 1.4 0.18 0.6
PAP 0-25 22 38 5.6 0.28 3.9 80 67 15 0.41 15

25-50 2.1 1.6 0.8 0.05 0.3
TUP 0-25 3.3 12 2.5 0.13 1.3 21 19 7 0.21 6

25-50 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.05 0.1
SAT 0-25 0.8 6.1 1.7 0.17 0.7 26 12 11 0.19 II

25-50 0.3 1.0 0.5 0.09 0.3
Pol soil
Sandy soil

0-25 1.6 2.2 1.1 0.10 0.4 25 8 8 0.23 9

1988
JOKA 0-25 2.5 4.5 2.6 0.09 1.0 82 20 14 0.22 23

30-60 0.4 3.2 1.7 0.02 1.1
TAMI 0-25 12 142 5.6 0.41 17 320 252 14 0.66 59

25-50 1.6 1.2 0.5 0.05 0.6
JOHA 0-25 14 72 3.7 0.32 10 55 127 10 0.44 30

25-50 0.5 1.9 0.1 0.02 0.1
Pot soil
Carex peat

0-25 9.5 13 1.4 0.23 5.7 49 42 18 0.47 20

1990
Pol exp.
EPO 0-25 1.4 6.1 - 4.3
PAP 0-25 21 35 - 4.2
TAM 0-25 14 104 - - 16

in element concentrations in this field can ex-
plain the large differences between zinc and nick-
el concentrations in these soils. The concentra-
tions of AR-extractable zinc and lead in Harja-
valta soils were very small compared with those
in a polluted soil near an old lead-zinc mine in
Spain, for instance (Ansorena et al. 1995). Ac-
cording to the preliminary standards for soil pol-
lution in Poland (Fotyma andTerelak 1994), soils

at Harjavalta are heavily polluted with copper,
very slightly polluted with zinc, nickel and cad-
mium and unpolluted with lead.

The heavy metals in contaminated soils were
more readily extractable into HAAC-EDTA than
therespective concentrations extracted withAR.
On average, 70% of AR-extractable cadmium,
50% of copper and 4-30% of zinc were extract-
able into HAAC-EDTA. Relatively speaking, the

435

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



highest HAAC-EDTA-extractable heavy metal
concentrations were measured on the coarsest
soils (TAM, TAMI and JOHA). Smaller fractions
of AR-extractable cadmium (40%), Cu (20%)
and Zn (3-19%) were extracted into HAAC-
EDTA from nonpolluted, JOKO, JOKN, JOKA
and pot soils than from polluted Harjavalta soils.
Zn and Ni were easily extractable into HAAC-
EDTA from Carex peat pot soil; copper, how-
ever, was extractable only with difficulty.
Extractable Ni concentrations were very low in
nonpolluted mineral soils.

Deposition
The annual bulk deposition of zinc, copper, lead
and cadmium at Harjavalta and Jokioinen
(JOKO, JOKN) can be estimated from the sum
of the values measured during the growing peri-
od from June 13, 1985 to October 8, 1985 and
from October 8, 1985 to May 28, 1986 (Table
3). Copper and cadmium deposition at some
Harjavalta sites was tens of times that at Jokioi-
nen, which can be considered a “nonpolluted”
rural area in southern Finland.

The bulk deposition of zinc, copper, lead,
cadmium and nickel at Harjavalta was really high
when compared with Swedish heavy metal de-
position values (Andersson and Gustafson 1988).
The lead deposition measured here at TAM,
POH, PAP, TAMI and JOHA was often also many
times higher than that measured alongside roads
at Jokioinen and at Nurmijärvi in 1987 and 1988
(Yläranta 1995). The main source of heavy met-
al deposition at Harjavalta was the copper-nick-
el smelter. Nickel deposition, too, was therefore
high at Harjavalta as measured during the grow-
ing period in 1988 (Table 3).

Differences in zinc and lead deposition be-
tween Harjavalta and Jokioinen were not as large
as in other elements. However, fairly high zinc
and lead depositions were measured at JOKO in
1986 (Table 3). These values are probably due
to the emissions from a small industrial point
source at Jokioinen.

The most sensitive biological instruments for

measuring the deposition of heavy metals in ter-
restrial ecosystems are certain mosses (Hertz
1991). Using the moss technique Riihling et al.
(1987, 1992) measured copper and nickel con-
centration of over 28 and 30 mg/kg in dry moss
samples in the Harjavalta region. These values
are the highest ever measured in northern Eu-
rope including Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ice-
land, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Sweden and
adjacent areas of Russia.

Sulphur emissions from the Outokumpu Har-
javalta Works during the experimental period
from 1985to 1986 amounted to about 7500 met-
ric tons of S02 . In spite of this, the annual bulk
deposition of sulphur at experimental sites at
Harjavalta was only some kilograms per hectare
(Table 3), being almost equal to the values meas-
ured at Jokioinen. The only available explana-
tion is that most of the S0

2
emissions were

spread over a large area instead of being depos-
ited locally. The annual nitrogen deposition, too,
was only some kilograms per hectare, presum-
ably because there are no special NO or N02
sources at Harjavalta.

The lead concentration in air (Fig. 1) was ten
times and the cadmium concentration tens of
times that of the “background” values (Yläranta
1995). The lead concentration was still, on av-
erage, clearly lower than that measured in air at
13sites in or near London, UK in 1985 and 1986

(Jensen and Laxen 1987). Between the end of
June and the beginning of July the lead concen-
tration had a very clear peak. At Harjavalta, oc-
casional peak concentrations were also typical
of bulk depositions. The simultaneous lead and
cadmium peaks were obviously due to unexpect-
ed malfunctions in industrial processes. The
mean concentrations of other elements in dry
deposition at TAMI, the lead and cadmium de-
position at the same experimental site and the
values measured from June 21 to September 27,
1988 200 m from a road at Jokioinen (JO 11,
Yläranta 1995) 200 m from a road were as fol-
lows (ng nr3 ):

S Zn Cu Pb Cd Ni
TAMI 880 140 30 73 2.5 13
JOII 720 10 1.6 7.9 0.06 4.2

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AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND

Yläranta, T. Uptake of heavy metals by plants from airborne deposition and polluted soils



Voi 5 (1996): 431-447.

Table 3. Precipitation (Prec.) and bulk deposition of some elements at the experimental sites in 1985, 1986
and 1988.

Site and time Prec. N S Zn Cu Pb Cd Ni
period mm ~~

kg ha ' g ha '

13.6-8.10.1985
JOKO 243 2.2 2.8 66 16 16 0.14 -*)

JOKN 250 2.7 2.7 20 201 14 0.15
TAM 243 2.7 3.6 190 1100 170 4.3
POH 232 2.9 3.7 92 410 46 2.6
PAP 253 2.2 2.6 95 230 170 1.3
TUP 236 1.9 2.3 41 78 20 0.46
SAT 240 2.4 2.3 36 43 25 0.33
8.10.1985-28.5.1986
JOKO 208 3.4 2.7 67 6 42 0.23
JOKN 165 2.9 2.3 15 5 12 0.18
TAM 224 3.9 4.4 420 2600 130 10.4
POH 227 5.8 6.5 320 1200 83 5.3
PAP 219 3.3 2.9 160 290 230 1.7
TUP 228 2.8 2.5 48 110 23 0.79
SAT 277 3.6 2.8 37 60 22 0.44
28.5-22.10.1986
JOKO 349 3.1 3.2 26 7 21 0.16
JOKN 334 3.0 3.2 18 8 15 0.14
TAM 314 3.1 4.8 260 2200 82 31.7
POH 312 3.2 4.6 150 1000 58 6.9
PAP 291 2.6 3.2 120 410 42 2.6
TUP 298 2.4 2.8 29 97 20 3.0
SAT 300 2.9 2.9 34 79 40 15.8

31.5-27.9.1988
JOKA 243 2.1 2.2 20 33 8 0.17 24
TAMI 315 1.8 3.3 140 1200 62 3.1 490
JOHA 311 1.9 2.7 79 410 28 1.0 165

*) not measured

Although the concentrations of elements in
dry deposition are not given in “g ha 1”, we can
deduce from the values shown that the dry de-
position of most elements at TAMI has been very
low compared with the bulk deposition (Table
3). Exceptions to this “rule” are sulphur and zinc.
Heavy metal concentrations in the air were clear-
ly higher than in the “clean” background area at
Jokioinen. It is surprising that sulphur deposi-
tion was equally high at both sites.

Metal accumulation by plants
Field experiments
In 1985 and 1986, the yields varied clearly from
growing site to growing site but not very much
within the pots grown in plots (Table 4-9). No
abnormal differences in calcium, magnesium,
potassium, phosphorus or sulphur concentrations
were seen between plants grown on plots and
those grown in pots. Therefore, except for sul-
phur, these figures are omitted from the final
results.

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AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



Yläranta, T Uptake ofheavy metals by plants from airborne deposition and polluted soils

The concentrations ofzinc, copper, lead, cad-
mium and nickel varied between different plant
species and also to some extent between the ex-

perimental years. The differences in the sulphur
concentrations of plants were smaller than were
those in heavy metals.

Fig. 1. Dry deposition of Pb (ng nr3 ) measured on dust filters. Each point represents sampling for 3-4 days. The squares are
joined by a line to ease readability.

Fig. 2. Dry deposition of Cd (ng nr 3) measured on dust filters. Otherwise as in Fig. I.

438

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



Vol. 5 (1996): 431^447.

Table 4. Mean dry matter yield, g/plot (Y) or pot (A), S, and heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg of dry
matter) of first yield of lettuce at Jokioinen (JOKO) and (JOKN), Harjavalta (TAM, POH, PAP, TUP) and
Kokemäki (SAT) in 1985 and 1986.

Lettuce JOKO JOKN TAM POH PAP TUP SAT

1985
Yield Y 1131 1354 1437 856 1420 1127 1256
Yield A 11.5 bc 11.3bc 11.9 b 19.7 a 7.5 d S.O" 1 lO^ 1*
Zn Y 35 d 28“ 96' 193* 141 b 30 d 30 d

Zn A 43* 34c 36* 52“b 55“ 34' 40abc

Cu Y 4.7' 3.7' 67 a 60* 40 b 14' 11'
Cu A B.l' 4.0' 33 ab 40“ 29 b 7.1' 7.3'
Pb Y 0.33' 0.28' 1.75 b 3.55“ 0.76' 0.44' 0.46'
Pb A 0.31' 0,17' 0,80 b 2.81“ 0.75' 0.19' 0.22'
Cd Y 0.65 r 1.52' 3.25 b 5.41“ 1.12 d' I.oo' 1.35'd
Cd A 0.51 * 0.45' 0.53 * 0.70“ 0.62“b 0.51 0.55
Ni Y 0.90 d 1.06d 11.4b 36.0“ 4.88' 1.58 d 1.78 d

Ni A 0.82'd 0.46 d 3.22 b 6.04“ 1.58' 0.44 d 0.58 cd

S Y 2.29' 2.73 d 3.70 b 4.76“ 4.58“ 2.67 d 3.21'
S A 3.59 b 3.31 b 3.79 b 2.60' 4.19“ 3.38 b 3.33 b

1986
Yield Y 2910 2025 1930 995 1786 2390 1981
Yield A 20.5“ 18.2“b 13.5 bc 21.1“ 11.1' 16.2* 16.8*
Zn Y 34' 35' 88b 184“ 85 b 30' 32'
Zn A 50“ 4145“b 49“ 40 bc 35' 35'
Cu Y 5.3' 4.4' 47“ 49“ 49“ 15 b 22 b

Cu A 8.8'd 6.4 d 31 b 58“ 27 b 13"1 16'
Pb Y 0.31' 0.17' 0.80 b 2.81“ 0.75' 0,19' 0.22'
Pb A 0.22' 0.30' 1.94“ 2.23“ 2.09“ 0.56“ 1.28 b

Cd Y 0.53' 1.25' 3.50 b 4.94“ 0.76' 0.93' 1,34'
Cd A 0.54 b 0.60 b 0.96“ 0.77 “b 0.68 b 0.55 b 0.57 b

Ni Y 0.86 ef 0.61 f 29.3 b 51.6“ 13.4' 4.66 df' 5.28 d

Ni A 0.41' 0.30' 18.8b 27.9“ 6.47' 3.58 d 3.36 d

S Y 2.52' 2.61' 3,54 b 4.38“ 2.87' 2.78' 2.70'
S A 2.59' 2.74 3.55“ 2.46' 2.66' 3.05 b 2.45'

Means not marked with a common letter differ from each other at the 1% significance level (Tukey’s HSD,
Honestly SignificantDifference test). The plots and pots were tested separately.

In most cases the element concentrations
were highest at the experimental sites TAM and
POH (Table 4-8) and TAMI and JOHA (Table
9). The element concentrations at POH often dif-
fered from those measured in the “clean area”
and at JOKO, JOKN and JOKA, but also from
those measured at TUP and SAT, both of which
are farther from the Outokumpu Harjavalta
Works than are TAM, POH. PAP, TAMI and

JOHA. The zinc, copper, lead, nickel and sul-
phur concentrations in timothy grown at JOKO
and JOKN were at the same level but the cad-
mium concentrations were at a somewhat higher
level than the reported average in Finland
(Mäkelä-Kurtto et al. 1993).

In all cases nickel accumulation by different
plant species was intense at Harjavalta. Copper
was effectively accumulated by lettuce, timothy

439

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



Table 5. Mean dry matter yield, g/plot (Y) or pot (A), S, and heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg of dry
matter) of spring wheat grain and straw at Jokioinen (JOKO) and (JOKN), Harjavalta (TAM, POH, PAP,
TUP) and Kokemäki (SAT) in 1985.

JOKO JOKN TAM POH PAP TUP SAT

Grain
Yield Y 2364 2740 3003 2529 3784 4746 3650
Yield A 20.7 b 22.0 b 29.5 s 31.7 s 30,2 s 20.3 b 21.3 b

Zn Y 30 c 29' 62 s 64 s 49 b 35' 31'
Zn A 33 sb 34 sb 32 sb 32 sb 30b 35 s 32**»
Cu Y 2.3' 3,4' 10 s 8.2 b 6.2' 6.2' 4.6 d

Cu A 3.7' 5.2 b 7.1 s 5.3 b 5.1 b 5.1 b 4,6 b

Pb Y 0.053' 0.018 f 0.072 s 0.045 d 0.064 b 0,032' 0.030'
Pb A 0.015f 0.021' 0.073 b 0.035' 0.083 s 0,027 d 0.015 *

Cd Y 0.029f 0.03 l f 0.25 s 0.17 b 0.063' 0.059 d 0.037'
Cd A 0.034 d 0.031' 0.057 s 0.048 b 0.038' 0.046 b 0.034 d

Ni Y 0.14 b 0,l0 b 13.2 s 13.5 s 0.54 b 0.40b 0.20 b

Ni A 0.10b 0.1O b 3.28 s 3.67 s 0.28 b 0.24 b 0.10 b

S Y 1.67 s 1.69 s 1.69 s 1.75 s 1.76s 1.70s 1.68 s

S A 1.98 sbc 2.03 sb 2.09 s 1.92 1.83' 2.04 sb 1.94 sbc

Straw
Yield Y 4049 4830 5266 8538 5614 5487 2740
Yield A 30.1 b 36.0 s 39.7 s 38.0 s 40.0 s 34.8 sb 35.8 ab

Zn Y 8.7 d 7.3 d 97.3 s 73.8 b 39.2' 12.8 d 8.2 d

Zn A 11.7 b 9.9 b 24.9 s 24.0 s 12.5 b 10.3 b 9.7 b

Cu Y I.B' 2.1' 74.7 s 36.5 b 6.5' 6.5' 3.7'
Cu A 2.9' 3.4' 172.6s 78.9 b 9.9' 7.8' 5.3'
Pb Y 0.79' 0.78' 3.25 s 2.1 l b 2.77 sb 1.21' 0.59'
Pb A 0.93' 1.02' 4.92 s 3.47 b 4.98 s 1.37' 0.71'
Cd Y 0.057' 0.058' 0.976 s 0.647 b 0.126' 0,103' 0.077'
Cd A 0.072b 0.059 b 0.334 s 0.259 s 0.083 b 0.075 b 0.060 b

Ni Y 0.34' 0.16' 31.90 s 12.04b 1.42' 1.30' I,lB'
Ni A 0.22' 0.16' 52.0 s 19.92b 1.96' 1.32' 0.44'
S Y 0.82' 0.91' 1.69 s 1.53 s 1.60s 1.51 s 1.11 b

S A I.ll' 1.17' 1.64s 1.50 sb 1.34bc 1.50sb 1.52 sb

Statistical tests as in Table 4.

and Italian rye grass, as were zinc and cadmium
by plants grown on plots.

The accumulation of heavy metals by plants
from the soil and airborne deposition could be
evaluated with the experimental design used. The
soil at Harjavalta was found to have been pol-
luted since 1945 by emissions from various in-
dustrial processes, mainly from the smelter,
whereas pot soils were not polluted (Table 2).

There were differences within the plants
grown in different soils and at different sites;

this, too, affected the element concentrations in
plants. However, using the concentrations of el-
ements measured in plants grown at clean JOKO,
JOKN and JOKA sites we can compare the ac-
cumulation by plants of elements from the soil
on the plot with that from airborne deposition.

The mobility of copper and lead in plants is
slight (e.g. Gorlachand Gambus 1992), as shown
by the low copper and lead concentrations of
wheat grain (Tables 5 and 6). The root tissue is
the primary site of accumulation of copper but

440

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND

Yläranta, T. Uptake ofheavy metals by plants from airborne deposition andpolluted soils



Vol. 5 (1996): 431-447.

Table 6. Mean dry matter yield, g/plot (Y) or pot (A), S, and heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg of dry
matter) of spring wheat grain and straw at Jokioinen (JOKO) and (JOKN), Harjavalta (TAM, POH, PAP,
TUP) and Kokemäki (SAT) in 1986.

JOKO JOKN TAM POH PAP TUP SAT

Grain
Yield Y 2503 2675 3509 2475 4870 3194 2487
Yield A 16.4ab 10.1 b 22.7“ 21.3“ 20.1“ 16.8“ 22.1“
Zn Y 32 “ d 31 “d 67“ 68“ 44 b 37 1* 27 d

Zn A 42 b 57“ 36“ 44 b 35“ 35“ 35“
Cu Y 3.2 d 2.3' 9.6“ 8.0 b 5.0“ 5.9“ 5.0'
Cu A 3.5 h“ S.ö 1* 6.5“ 6.1“ 4.1 b 3.2“ 3.1“
Pb Y 0.044 d 0.077“ 0.053 b 0.075“ 0.046 d 0.049 “ 0.051
Pb A 0.045 “ 0.022 d 0.039 b 0.038 b 0.027“ 0.029“ o.oll'
Cd Y 0.030 f 0.061“ 0.304“ 0.193 b 0.042 d 0.060 “ 0.035'
Cd A 0.033 f 0.081 b 0.099 “ 0.078“ 0.037' 0.045 d 0.046 d

Ni Y 0.040 b 0.106 b 11.30“ 9.69“ 0.65 b 0.538 b 0.38 b

Ni A 0.032“ 0.078“ 3.66“ 2.79 b 0.412“ 0.300 “ 0.128“
S Y 1.84“ 1.79 ab 1.79“b 1.55“ 1.77“b 1.72“b
S A 1.85 1.98 “b I.S? 1* 2.12“ 1.93 abt 2.03“b 1.71“
Straw
Yield Y 2904 3281 5331 3193 5236 4500 3363
Yield A 23.9 b 20.6 b 33.9“ 38.0“ 27.8 “b 25.3 ab 27.2“b

Zn Y 8.5“ 7.8“ 105“ 69 b 23“ 10“ 6.8'
Zn A 12 b 20“ 20“ I4 b I3 b ll b 12 b

Cu Y 1.9“ 1.8“ 32.0“ 19.7 b 6.8“ 4.9“ 6.1“
Cu A 2,6 d 2.7 d 25.6“ 21.0 b 8.6“ 4.8“d 5.5“d

Pb Y 0.412“ 0.531“ 2.19“ 1.391b 0.638“ 0.572“ 0.795“
Pb A 0.456 b 0.491 b 1.71“ 1.58“ 0.789 b 0.505 b 0.646 b

Cd Y 0.055“ 0.101“ 1.39“ 0.958 b 0.128' 0.132“ 0.127'
Cd A 0.084“ 0.128“ 0.485“ 0.388 b 0.125“ 0.109“ 0.130 b

Ni Y 0.054“ 0.054' 11.47“ 8.006 b 1.616“ 1.046“ 1.118“
Ni A 0.094“ 0.064“ 8.43“ 7.73* 1.91 b 0.738 0.860**
S Y 0.93 “d 0.79 d 1.89“ 1.42 b 1,04“ 1.35 b 0.82 d

S A 0.82 b 1.00b 1.69“ 1.41 “b 1.02 b 1.42“ 0.83 b

Statistical tests as in Table 4.

also of nickel when environmental levels of cop-
per and nickel are high (Bagatto and Shorthouse
1991).Vegetation is contaminatedby lead mainly

through theretention of particulate matter (Tho-
mas et al. 1984). It is thus evident that most of
the copper and lead in plants have been accu-
mulated from airborne deposition.

The increased nickel and cadmium concen-
trations in plants grown on plots and in pots at
Harjavalta showed that these elements were eas-
ily accumulated by plants from airborne deposi-

tion. Lettuce took up high concentrations ofcad-
mium in PAP and TAM soil, a finding that is
consistent with that of Gardiner et al. (1995).
They reported that the mobility ofcadmium into
plants from soil appears to be greater than the
mobility of zinc, copper and nickel.

The yields of and the element concentrations
in plants determined from the second and third
yields in 1985, 1986 and 1988 confirmed the re-
sults presented here.

441

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



Table 7. Mean dry matter yield, g/plot (Y) or pot (A), S, and heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg of dry
matter) of first yield of timothy at Jokioinen (JOKO) and (JOKN), Harjavalta (TAM, POH, PAP, TUP) and
Kokemäki (SAT) in 1985 and 1986.

Timothy JOKO JOKN TAM POH PAP TUP SAT

1985
Yield Y 1925 2339 2717 2076 2201 2316 2800
Yield A 18.9 b 19.8 b 26.1“ 19.7» 25.3“ 22.6 ab 25.9“
Zn Y 26 b 25b 88“ 88“ 87“ 28 b 24 b

Zn A 29 b 37“ 36“ 35“ b 38“ 32 ab 36“
Cu Y 4.6 d 4.6“ 28.7“ 20.7 b 16.5 b 9.5' 7.6'“
Cu A 4.5 c 6.3 13.5“ 14.4“ 9.4 b 6.2* 6.9*
Pb Y 0.30' 0.31 c 1.25“ 1.00b 0.26' 0.38“ 0.42'
Pb A 0.24 c 0.32' 0.56 b 0.97“ 0.18 c 0.25“ 0.31“
Cd Y 0.047 b 0.049 b 0.442“ 0.445“ 0,076 b 0.105 b 0.056b

Cd A 0.036' 0,056' 0.062 b 0.150“ 0.041“ 0.041“ 0.029f

Ni Y 0.78“ 1.08“ 13.46b 23.98“ 6.28' 1.88“ 1.60“
Ni A 0.48“ 0.76'“ 1.40 b 3.80“ 1.25 0.50“ 0.56“
S Y 1.50' 1.98“ 2.72 “b 2.44 * 2.87“ 2.32' 2.18'“
S A 1.38' 1.79 b 1.85 b 1.91 b 2.26“ 1.83 b 1.80 b

1986
Yield Y 3783 4405 3536 4236 2952 4231 4091
Yield A 28.2“ 23.5“ 22.9“ 32.3“ 27.8“ 24.5“ 28.7“
Zn Y 25' 21' 93“ 72 b 62 b 33' 22'
Zn A 25 b 26 b 40“ 29b 29 b 29 b 23 b

Cu Y 4.0'“ 3.0“ 29.8“ 19.5 b 9.3' 8.9' 5.5'“
Cu A 3.6' 4.3' 28.1“ 13.4 b 6.2' 6.5' 4.1'
Pb Y 0.26 h' 0.15' 1.36“ 1.14“ 0.57 b 0.29 * 0,20'
Pb A 0.24“ 0.23“ 1.68“ 0.97 b 0.64' 0.26“ 0.20“
Cd Y 0.030“ 0.035' 0.251“ 0.176b 0.031“ 0.029“' 0.028'
Cd A 0.019' 0.016 f 0.246“ 0.078 b 0.034' 0.024“ 0.024“
Ni Y 0.47' 0.57' 20.72 b 25.41“ 2.38' 1.47' 1.04'
Ni A 0,12' 0.28' 14.57“ 6.34 b I.lB' 0.65' 0.30'
S Y 1.49“ 1.64'“ 2.09 abc 2.39“ 1.79“ 2.21 “b 1.62“
S A 1.73““ 1.86“ 2.68“ 2.12* 1.97“ 2.23“b 1.59“

Statistical tests as in Table 4.

Pot experiment
The addition of 200 mg of Cu and 1000 mg of
Ni per pot increased the amounts of soluble salts
in pot soils (Table 10). These increments were
very clear with the largest additions of copper
or nickel. The bulk of the copper and nickel add-
ed to the soils was in HAAC-EDTA-extractable
form at the end of the experiment.

The largest addition of copper and nickel
(1000 mg/pot) killed the oats in EPO soils. Lim-
ing, which raised the soil pH(CaCl2 ) by 1.5-1.7

pH unit, saved the plants, and yields increased
almost to the control level. Liming lowered the
HAAC-EDTA-extractable copper and nickel
concentrations in the soil and the concentrations
of these elements in the oats shoots. However,
liming had a minor effect on the copper concen-
trations in oats shoots because these concentra-
tions were largely independent of the copper
added to the soils. Likewise in the pot experi-
ment carried out by Gorlach and Gambus(1992)
liming of acidic soil combined with the addition

442

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND

Yläranta, T. Uptake ofheavy metals byplants from airborne deposition andpolluted soils



Vol. 5 (1996): 431^47.

Table 8. Mean dry matter yield, g/plot (Y) or pot (A), S, and heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg of dry
matter) of first yield ofrye grass at Jokioinen (JOKO) and (JOKN), Harjavalta (TAM, POH, PAP, TUP)
and Kokemäki (SAT) in 1985 and 1986.

JOKO JOKN TAM POH PAP TUP SAT

1985
Yield Y 2578 2890 2732 2939 2985 2572 2641
Yield A 34.9 a 26.6 b “ 28.1 32,7 ab 17.0d 25.2 C 27.7 b“

Zn Y 20 1 19“ 49» 68 a 73 a 21“ 21“
Zn A 21 c 22“ 22“ 35a 28" 21“ 21 c

Cu Y 4.3 c 4.9“ 38.1 a 37.2“ 30.8“ 13.7 b 10.8*»
Cu A 4.0“ 6.2““ 22.5 b 31.6“ 13.3“ 8.3 d 6.8"“
Pb Y 0.66 •* 0.26“ 1.18 b 3.25“ 0.49“ 0.27“ 0.24“
Pb A 0.78 b 0.20“ 0.78 b 3.21“ OJS 1» 0.19“ 0.21“
Cd Y 0.06“ 0.16 b 0.37“ 0.42“ 0.15 b 0.1O 1* 0.109 1*
Cd A 0.066' 0.069 d 0.089 b 0.101“ 0.074“ 0.056 * 0.042*
Ni Y 0.9 d l.4 d 14.0 b 23.0* 6.1“ 1.60 d 1.84d

Ni A 0.52“ 0,86“ 1.90 h 4.37“ 0.82“ 0.60“ 0.66“
S Y 1.61“ 2.08 b 3.90“ 3.51“ 3.52“ 2.26 b 2.52 b

S A 1.81 d 2.29“ 2.79 b 2.16“ d 3.73“ 2.80 b 2.49 b“

1986
Yield Y 4445 3286 3168 3087 2655 2935 2383
Yield A 18.1“ 25.0 b“ 31.7 b 43.2“ 29.0 b 29.8 b 28.9 b

Zn Y 20 d 23 d 46 b 41“ 53“ 21 d 22 d

Zn A 25“ 29 “b 28ab 22 d 30* 23“ d 26abc

Cu Y 4.5 d 4.6 d 45.9“ 25.3 b 28.0 b 12.3“ 14.9“
Cu A 5.5 d 5.6 d 30.0“ 21.6 b 21.3 b 9.6“d 13.2“
Pb Y 0.38 “d 0.24 d 1.89“ 1.29 b 1.68“ 0.56“ 0.55'
Pb A 0.41 “d 0.25 d 1.39“ 1.20“b 1.48“ 0.59“* 0.78
Cd Y 0.06“ 0.20 b 0.50“ 0.46“ 0.19 b 0.11“ 0.243 b

Cd A 0.053* 0.091' 0.209b 0,248“ 0.163“ 0.092“ 0.133 d

Ni Y 0.74' o.BB' 33.30b 38.21“ 9.35“ 3.09 d 4.62 d

Ni A 0.37' 0.32' 15.09“ 10,42 b 5.81' l.Sg"' 3.37 d

S Y 1.46 d 2.03 “d 3.92“ 2.67 3.00 b 2.93 b 1.86 b

S A 1.31 d 1.32 d 2.53“ 1.56“ 1.65“ 2.13 b 1.22 d

Statistical tests as in Table 4.

of peat and phosphatic fertilizer diminished the
phytoavailability of nickel, thus reducing its
uptake by oats.

In copper-polluted PAP soil, copper additions
retarded the growth of oats, and the addition of
1000 mg of Cu per pot almost killed the oats in

PAP and TAM soil. When the yields of oats
shoots were very small the copper concentrations
in the shoots had increased. In TAM soil even
the smallest copper addition, 40 mg/pot, de-
creased oats yield, implying that in TAM soil the

copper concentration is already so high that it
can be phytotoxic for plants.

Additions of nickel to PAP and TAM soils
retarded the growth of oats very clearly. The
addition of as little as 200 mg of Ni per pot im-
peded the growth of oats, and the addition of
1000 mg/pot killed the oats plants in both soils.
As in EPO soil, the copper concentrations in
plants were low but nickel concentrations high
in TAM and PAP soils.

Risk assessment values collected by Finne-

443

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



Table 9. Mean dry matter yield (g/plot or pot) and heavy metal concentrations (mg/kg of dry matter) of
spring wheat grain and straw, rye grass and lettuce at Jokioinen (JOKA) and at Harjavalta (TAMI, JOHA)
in 1988.

Plots Pots
JOKA TAMI JOHA JOKA TAMI JOHA

Wheat,
grain
Yield 2110 2530 2424 13.4" 24.2' 21.6"
Zn 34 c 49 a 44 h 76" 50' 63 b

Cu 4.3 c 9.3" 8.0 h 4.7" 6.7" 6.8»
Pb 0.03" 0.07 a 0.09" 0.04" 0.05" 0.08"
Cd 0.03 c 0.12" 0.07" 0.04" 0.03= 0.05"
Ni 0.1 c 14.2" 7.2" 0.06" 6.8" 7.0"

Wheat,
straw
Yield 2120 4290 5016 26.4" 36.2" 44.4"
Zn 7.5 b 32.5" 25" 53" 34 b 29 b

Cu 2.3 C 47.3" 18.7" 3.7" 23.6' 9.3"
Pb 0.34 c 2.07" 1.21 b 0.18" 0.79" 0.67 "b

Cd 0.04 c 0.51» 0.19" 0.12" 0.1 l h 0.08 c

Ni o.l' 19.4" 5.3" o.l' 8.0" 2.4 b

Rye
grass
Yield 1780 1990 2410 49.3" 44.8 b 33.8 b

Zn 21 b 58" 51" 38» 37» 36»
Cu 6.4' 54» 34" 6.3' 37.3» 21.9 b

Pb 0.22 c 1.71» 1.22 b 0.29c 1.38» 0.95 b

Cd 0.11 c 0.35» 0.24 b 0.117" 0.120' 0.092'
Ni 0.9 c 40.7' 23.0 b 0.7 c 19.2' 6.8"

Lettuce
Yield 840 696 1640 22.5" 25.9'b 36.1»
Zn 31 c 154» 73 b 47 b 50 b 61"
Cu 6.6 b 20.4" 19.3» 5.6 b 15.2" 11.8"
Pb 0.67" 0.70" 0.85» 0.25" 0.48" 0.49"
Cd 0.40" 2.26' 1.14 »b 0.28' 0.28" 0.32"
Ni o.B' 36.2" 12.1 b 0.5 c 7.8" 4.9 b

Statistical tests as in Table 4.

cy (1987) from polluted soils show that such soils
can pose a risk to humans, animals, plants and
water. According to a Dutch assessment based
on the demand that soil retain its ‘multifunction-
ality’, soil is polluted and clean up necessary
when copper and nickel concentrations exceed
500 mg/kg of soil (Moen et al. 1985). The present
study showed that this limit is too high for both
of these elements in Finland. In acidic soil

(EPO), a nickel concentration of less than 20 mg/
kg ofsoil and a copper concentration of less than
100 mg/kg of soil clearly reduced the dry matter
yields of oats shoots. In polluted PAP and TAM
soils theserisk values were somewhat higher but
then pH(CaCl2

) was higher than in EPO soil.
From the investigations of the effect of particu-
lar heavy metals on plants it follows, however,
that their tolerance to an increased heavy metal

444

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND

Yläranta, T. Uptake ofheavy metals by plants from airborne deposition andpolluted soils



Vol. 5 (1996): 431^147.

Table 10. Mean dry matter yields (g/plot or pot), copper and nickel concentrations (mg/kg of dry matter) and uptake (mg/
pot) of oats shoots in pot experiment in EPO, PAP and TAM soils in 1990.No Li. = No liming. EC = electrical conductivity
(10"4 x S/cm), pH = CaCI2 , Extract. = HAAC-EDTA-extractable concentrations ofcopper and nickel.

Extract,
mg/pot

Cu Ni

Concentr.
mg/kg

Cu Ni

Uptake
mg/potg/pot

YieldEC pH Cu Ni

EPOCu
No Li.
Control 5“ 4.5“ 13 d 10 b 7.7“ 6.5 b 14.1 b 0.05 0.11
Cu 40 5“ 4.5» 39“ I0 b 8.8“ 8.6 b 14.6 b 0.08 0.13

200 9 b 4.4 “b 165 b 12“ 5.l b 17.1“ 27.6“ 0.09 0.14
1000 16 “ 4.2 b 845“ 13“ -*) - -

Liming
Control 5 b 4.5 b 13“ 10“ 7.7 b 6.5* 14.1“ 0.05 0.11
Con./ Li 7 b 6.1” 15“ 7 b 10.0“ 4.9“ 2.3 b 0.05 0.02
Cu 40 7 b 6.2” 56“ 7 b 8.6 “b 7.5 abc 2.4 b 0.06 0.02

200 8 b 6.1“ 148 b 9.8“ 8.1“b 2.8 b 0.08 0.03
1000 13 " 6.0“ 670“ 5 c 5.7 b 9.4“ 3.7 b 0.05 0.02

EPO Ni
No Li.
Control 5“ 4.5* I3* b 10“ 7.7“ 6.5“ 14.1 b 0.05 0.11
Ni 40 6“ 4.5“ 13“ 49 c 6.8 b 5.1 b 70.6 b 0.03 0,48

200 10 b 4.3 b I2*b 210 b 0.4“ I.B' 395.4“ 0.00 0.15
1000 15“ 4.4 b ll b 986“ - - - -

Liming
Control 5 b 4.5 b 13 b 10“ 7.7 6.5“ 14.1“ 0.05 0.11
Con./Li 7 b 6.1“ 15“ 7“ 10.0 4.9 b 2.3 d 0.05 0.02
Ni 40 7 b 6.1“ 16“ 30' 9.0 1.4“ 6.0“* 0.01 0.05

200 7 b 6.2“ 16“ 92 b 9.9 4.7 b 26.5 b 0.05 0.26
1000 14 “ 6.0“ 14 “b 444“ 7.0 3.6 b 71.1“ 0.02 0.48

PAP Cu
Control 5 b 5.1 73 d 8 11.9" 10.7“ 10.9“ 0.13 0.13
Cu 40 5 b 5.1 107“ 8 11.1“ 11.6“ 11.9“ 0.13 0.13

200 7 b 5.0 238 b 8 10.9“ 14.1 b 16.3 b 0.15 0.19
1000 16 “ 4.9 930“ 9 0.5 b 18.7“ 20.7" 0.01 0.01

PAP Ni
Control 5“ 5.1“ 73 8 d 11.9“ 10.7“ 10.9“ 0.13 0.13
Ni 40 5“ 5.1“ 73 41 “ 11.5“ 9.9“ 45.5 b 0.11 0.52

200 12 b 4.9 b 72 181 b 4.3 b 7.0 b 175.6* 0.03 0.75
1000 17“ 5.0 “b 75 925“ -

-
-

TAM Cu
Control 5“ 5.6“ 325“ 36 12.7“ 13.7 b 40.6b 0,17 0.52
Cu 40 5“ 5.6* 359' 34 10.4 b 14.7 b 41.2 b 0.15 0.43

200 9 b 5.4 “b 476 b 36 7.1“ 13.0b 47.8 b 0,09 0.34
1000 16 “ 5.3 b 1136“ 37 0.4 d 29.9" 77.8“ 0.01 0.03

TAM Ni
Control 5 b 5.6 325 36“ 12.7“ 13.7 40.6 b 0.17 0.52
Ni 40 6 b 5.5 316 67' 11.7 “b 12.8 65.8 "b 0.15 0.77

200 9 b 5.4 312 176 b 5.5 b 11.6 150.3“ 0.07 0.65
1000 15 “ 5.5 311 943“ - - -

Means not marked with a common letter differ from each other at the 1% significance level (Tukey’s HSD, Honestly
Significant Difference test). / *) oats dead

445

AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND



content depends on the plant species, and is dif-
ferent for different metals (e.g. Gorlach and
Gambits 1992).

The copper and nickel uptake by oats shoots
was very small (Table 10).

Conclusions
Concentrations of zinc, copper, lead, cadmium
and nickel varied between different plant spe-
cies and also between experimental years. Dif-
ferences in sulphur concentrations between
plants were small.

The lead and copper concentrations of wheat
grain were low, even at polluted sites. Especial-
ly nickel but also cadmium and copper were eas-
ily taken up by plants from soil and also accu-
mulated from airborne deposition. In acidic soil,
nickel and copper concentrations lower than 20
mg/kg and 100 mg/kg of soil, respectively, de-
creased the dry matter yields of oats shoots. Lim-
ing clearly lowered copper and nickel phytotox-
ity.

In the pot experiment, the smallest addition
of copper into TAM soil, 20 mg/kg of soil, de-
creased the yield of oats shoots. Thus, in the most
highly polluted acidic soils at Harjavalta, the
copper concentration is so high that it may de-
crease the yield of plants.

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SELOSTUS
Kasvien raskasmetallien otto ilmasta ja saastuneesta maasta

Toivo Yläranta
Maatalouden tutkimuskeskus

Sinkin, kuparin, lyijyn, kadmiumin ja nikkelin ker-
tymistä lehtisalaattiin, vehnän jyviin ja olkiin, timo-
teihin ja italianraiheinään tutkittiin vuonna 1985,
1986 ja 1988 Harjavallassa ja sen ympäristössä sekä
vertailupaikkakunnalla Jokioisissa. Harjavallassa toi-
mivat Outokumpu Oy:n Harjavallan tehtaat ovat vuo-
desta 1945 lähtien levittäneet ympäristöönsä raskas-
metalleja, erikoisesti kuparia ja nikkeliä. Keskeisin
Outokumpu Oy:n Harjavallan tehtaista on ollut ku-
pari- ja nikkelisulatto, joka on lajissaan Suomen ai-
noa. Harjavallassa on toiminut eräitä muitakin ras-
kasmetallien, erikoisesti lyijyn, päästölähteitä. Tut-
kimuksessa selvitettiin raskasmetallien kertymistä
kasveihin ilmasta ja saastuneesta maasta. Koepaikat
sijaitsivat eri etäisyydellä ja eri suunnissa Outokum-
pu Oy:n tehtaista. Koepaikkojen valinnalla pyrittiin
selvittämään raskasmetallien kulkeutumisetäisyyden
ja -suunnan vaikutusta viljelykasvien raskasmetalli-
pitoisuuteen.

Jokioisissa vuonna 1990 läpiviedyssä astiako-
keessa tutkittiin, mikä viljelymaan kupari- ja nikke-
lipitoisuus pienentää viljelykasvin satoa. Kahteen
harjavaltalaiseen kuparilla ja nikkelillä saastuneeseen

hienohietamaahan lisättiin 40, 200 ja 1000 mg kupa-
ria tai nikkeliä kahta maalitraa kohti. Vertailumaana
oli Maatalouden tutkimuskeskuksen Etelä-Pohjan-
maan tutkimusasemalta (EPO) noudettu saastumaton
savimaa, joka samojen raskasmetallilisäysten lisäksi
kalkittiin.

Kasvilajien raskasmetallipitoisuudet olivat eri-
suuria. Myös eri koepaikoilla kasvaneen kasvin ras-
kasmetallipitoisuudet vaihtelivat selvästi. Vehnän jy-
vien kupari-ja lyijypitoisuudet olivat pieniä kaikilla
koepaikoilla. Nikkeli kertyi kasveihin helposti ilma-
laskeumasta. Myös kupari ja kadmium siirtyivät hel-
pohkosti ilmasta kasveihin.

Astiakokeessa nikkeli oli kuparia myrkyllisempi
kauralle. Happamassa EPO-maassa pienehköt nikkeli-
ja kuparipitoisuudet, Ni 20 mg ja Cu 100 mg maalit-
raa kohti, pienensivät kauran versojen satoa. EPO-
maan kalkitseminen pienensi selvästi nikkelin ja ku-
parin myrkyllisyyttä. Pahimmin saastuneessa Harja-
vallan maassa pienin kuparilisäys, Cu 20 mg maalit-
raa kohti, pienensi ohran versojen satoa. Harjavallas-
sa saattaakin olla happamia viljelymaita, joissa maan
korkea kuparipitoisuus voi vähentää kasvien kasvua.

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AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE IN FINLAND