Intensity of heavy metal and arsenic accumulation in medicinal plants of synanthropic flora in Voronezh region

The aim of this study is to examine the peculiarities of the accumulation of the most dangerous heavy metals and arsenic in medicinal plant raw material of the synanthropic flora in the Voronezh region. Materials and Methods. The study was carried out by atomic absorption spectrometry. The author studied the accumulation of heavy metals (lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, chromium) and arsenic in 10 types of medicinal plant raw materials harvested in 51 locations (Voronezh region), which differ in terms of anthropogenic impact. Results. The highest level of lead consentration was noted in Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg, and Arctium lappa L. roots, Polygonum aviculare L. and Plantago major L. leaves. Mercury concentration in all studied samples was rather low. A bit higher mercury concentration was noted in Plantago major L and Urtica dioica L. leaves, and Artemisia absinthium L. High cadmium concentration was found in Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg and Arctium lappa L. roots, Plantago major L. leaves, Artemisia absinthium L. and Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib. Arsenic accumulated intensively in Plantago major L. leaves, Arctium lappa L. roots, Artemisia absinthium L. and Achillea millefolium L. Nickel accumulated intensively in Plantago major L. and Urtica dioica L. leaves, Polygonum aviculare L. and Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib. Zinc accumulated mainly in the roots and herbs themselves. Having analyzed the accumulation coefficients of heavy metals and arsenic for all studied medicinal plant raw materials, we organized the heavy metals and arsenic in the decreasing order: zinc > copper > cadmium > cobalt > nickel > arsenic > chromium > lead > mercury.