390
13.3.2 Thymus Species (Thymus alsarensis Ronniger)
Because the endemic plant species thyme grows at the Allchar deposit and is exposed
to excess amounts of As, Sb, and Tl that are present in the soil (Volkov et al. 2006;
Boev and Jelenkovic 2012; Bačeva et al. 2014b), particular attention was given also
to the content of these elements in plant samples. The content of some other heavy
metals in Thymus alsarensis Ronniger was previously determined in the whole plant
(Kadifkova Panovska et al. 1996; Bačeva et al. 2016). As the most present toxic elements in the soil of the Allchar locality (Bačeva et al. 2014b), here data about the
content of As, Sb, and Tl in T. alsarensis and in the surrounding soil are presented
in Tables 13.3 and 13.4.
The median value of As, Sb, and Tl from various sampling sites was 215, 23, and
15 mg kg
−1
, respectively. Total content of As in soil samples from various sites
where Thymus species were collected varied remarkably from 34.7 to 5290 mg kg
−1
,
with a median of 215 mg kg
−1
. Total Sb content in the soil where samples of T. alsarensis were taken varied from 6.3 to 130 mg kg
−1
, with a median value of 23 mg kg
−1
(Table 13.3). The total content of Tl in soil where samples of T. alsarensis were
taken varied from 2.0 to 330 mg kg
−1
, with a median of 15.3 mg kg
−1
.
From the results that are presented in Tables 13.3 and 13.4, it can be seen that the
content of Tl and As in some plant samples that are collected in this area are significantly elevated (up to 140 mg kg
−1
and 496 mg kg
−1
for As and Tl, respectively).
Based on Tables 13.3 and 13.4, as well as Fig. 13.7, it is evident that samples of
T. alsarensis were able to accumulate toxic elements, especially As and Tl, and
distribute them in all parts of the plant. The content of As was significantly higher
in roots and leaves, but the content of Sb was considerably lower than both of As
and Tl, and it has no significant variation between the content in different parts of
the plant. The content of Tl was significantly higher in the roots, flowers, and leaves
of all samples of T. alsarensis that were collected from the Allchar locality.
Table 13.3 The content of As, Sb, and Tl in Thymus alsarensis (in mg kg
−1
)
Element
Thymus alsarensis Ronn.
Soil (0–5 cm)
Average
Med
Min-max
Average
Med
Min-max
As
16.1
3
0.25–140
809
215
35–5290
Sb
0.4
0.25
0.25–1.51
34.7
23
6.3–130
Tl
95.4
20.7
0.10–496
58.8
15.3
2.0–330
Table 13.4 Average values for As, Sb, and Tl in different parts of the Thymus alsarensis (in mg
kg
−1 )
Elements
Root
Stem
Leaf
Flower
As
62.7
10.6
14
4.45
Sb
0.89
0.29
0.43
0.3
Tl
147
60.7
104
131
K. B. Andonovska et al.
13.3.2 Thymus Species (Thymus alsarensis Ronniger)
Because the endemic plant species thyme grows at the Allchar deposit and is exposed
to excess amounts of As, Sb, and Tl that are present in the soil (Volkov et al. 2006;
Boev and Jelenkovic 2012; Bačeva et al. 2014b), particular attention was given also
to the content of these elements in plant samples. The content of some other heavy
metals in Thymus alsarensis Ronniger was previously determined in the whole plant
(Kadifkova Panovska et al. 1996; Bačeva et al. 2016). As the most present toxic elements in the soil of the Allchar locality (Bačeva et al. 2014b), here data about the
content of As, Sb, and Tl in T. alsarensis and in the surrounding soil are presented
in Tables 13.3 and 13.4.
The median value of As, Sb, and Tl from various sampling sites was 215, 23, and
15 mg kg
−1
, respectively. Total content of As in soil samples from various sites
where Thymus species were collected varied remarkably from 34.7 to 5290 mg kg
−1
,
with a median of 215 mg kg
−1
. Total Sb content in the soil where samples of T. alsarensis were taken varied from 6.3 to 130 mg kg
−1
, with a median value of 23 mg kg
−1
(Table 13.3). The total content of Tl in soil where samples of T. alsarensis were
taken varied from 2.0 to 330 mg kg
−1
, with a median of 15.3 mg kg
−1
.
From the results that are presented in Tables 13.3 and 13.4, it can be seen that the
content of Tl and As in some plant samples that are collected in this area are significantly elevated (up to 140 mg kg
−1
and 496 mg kg
−1
for As and Tl, respectively).
Based on Tables 13.3 and 13.4, as well as Fig. 13.7, it is evident that samples of
T. alsarensis were able to accumulate toxic elements, especially As and Tl, and
distribute them in all parts of the plant. The content of As was significantly higher
in roots and leaves, but the content of Sb was considerably lower than both of As
and Tl, and it has no significant variation between the content in different parts of
the plant. The content of Tl was significantly higher in the roots, flowers, and leaves
of all samples of T. alsarensis that were collected from the Allchar locality.
Table 13.3 The content of As, Sb, and Tl in Thymus alsarensis (in mg kg
−1
)
Element
Thymus alsarensis Ronn.
Soil (0–5 cm)
Average
Med
Min-max
Average
Med
Min-max
As
16.1
3
0.25–140
809
215
35–5290
Sb
0.4
0.25
0.25–1.51
34.7
23
6.3–130
Tl
95.4
20.7
0.10–496
58.8
15.3
2.0–330
Table 13.4 Average values for As, Sb, and Tl in different parts of the Thymus alsarensis (in mg
kg
−1 )
Elements
Root
Stem
Leaf
Flower
As
62.7
10.6
14
4.45
Sb
0.89
0.29
0.43
0.3
Tl
147
60.7
104
131
K. B. Andonovska et al.