ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Influence of Wind Direction on the Level
of Trace Metals in Plants Collected around
a Quarry Site in South Africa
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1
Department of Biology, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, Republic of South Africa
2
Plant Ecology Unit, Botany Department, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria
Submission date: 2018-06-18
Final revision date: 2018-08-27
Acceptance date: 2018-09-04
Online publication date: 2019-05-01
Publication date: 2019-05-28
Corresponding author
Idris Olawale Raimi
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, P.O. Box 139, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Medunsa, 0204 Pretoria, South Africa
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(5):3385-3393
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ABSTRACT
Industrialization has resulted in the release of pollutants, especially trace metals, to the environment,
which adversely affects the ecosystem. The present study investigated the influence of wind direction on
the level of trace metals deposited on vegetation around the quarry site. Three plants common to the four
cardinals of the quarry site, precisely 10 meters away, were collected and transported to a laboratory,
where further analyses were carried out to determine the trace metal contents in the air-dried unwashed
plants. The plants collected from the southwest direction, which represents the position of the stack
that emits smoke from the quarry site, recording the highest trace metal concentration. The result of
the plant analysis for trace metal concentration showed that Lantana camara among the three plants
bio-accumulated most of the trace metals from the quarry site and other adjoining environment.
The levels of trace metals from the plants exceeded the acceptable limits for human and livestock
consumption. The study therefore concluded that wind direction and the position of the stack played
a significant role in the amount of trace metals around the quarry site.