BORON AND MOLYBDENUM CONTENTS OF VERBASCUM OLYMPICUM BOISS. GROWING AROUND AN ABANDONED TUNGSTEN MINE: A CASE STUDY FOR ECOLOGICAL PROBLEM SOLVING

Abstract

This study evaluates the competitive or complementary effects of Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb, Zn, and W to B levels of Verbascum olympicum Boiss. (Scrophulariaceae) that is one of the main endemic species spread in disturbed areas of abandoned Etibank tungsten mine work at Uludağ Mountain (Bursa, Turkey). Samples were harvested from the unpolluted and polluted areas of mine work. Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry was used to determine the levels of selected elements from leaves and soils of V. olympicum. Classical open wet and Kjeldahl digestions were applied to the samples. Accuracy was evaluated using two kinds of certified reference materials. Complementary behaviors of B and Mo were found in leaves of this species rather than its soils that may help to adaptation properties of this species on the destroyed area.