Bioavailability of Heavy Metals in a Multi-Metal Smelter Contaminated Site.

Bioaccumulation of metals in the ecosystem can adversely affect living organisms. A study was conducted to evaluate and compare bioavailability measured by sequential chemical extractions and actual plant uptake. The Spelter smelter site in West Virginia is a multi-metal contaminated site contaminated with Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu. Sequential extractions showed that Cd and Zn are associated with the labile fractions that are considered bioavailable. A plant uptake study with common garden vegetables like radish, spinach and carrots showed that the uptake of metals is metal specific as well as plant specific with radish and spinach having the highest uptake. The results with the plant uptake study also demonstrated that Cd and Zn had the highest bioavailability index.