Investigation of the fly ash heavy metal pollution of plants in the basin of the West Macedonia lignite center (Greece)

In the region of West Macedonia in Greece there are four lignite power plants producing about 70% of the electric energy of the country. These power plants release trace elements through the fly ash, which disperse and settle on the soil and the ecosystems. A comparative investigation of seven heavy metals (Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Cd and Pb) in mosses, lichens and trees over the West Macedonia Lignite Center basin has been carried out. Also the distribution of these metals and their potential association with the ash emissions has been done using chemometrical classification methods (MDS, PCA and Cluster analysis). This study indicates that, compared to trees, mosses and lichens have a higher capacity for absorbing and accumulating heavy metals. Compared with unpolluted areas, the concentration of chromium, manganese, iron, nickel, cadmium and lead are systematically increasing in tree leaves in the vicinity of all power plants. The most reliable explanation for their origin is the flying ash of lignite, rich in most of the metals in question.