Résumé
Mining activities generate spoils and effluents with extremely high metal concentrations of heavy metals that might have adverse effects on ecosystems and human health. Therefore, information on soil and plant metal concentrations is needed to assess the severity of the pollution and develop a strategy for soil reclamation such as phytoremediation. Here, we studied soils and vegetation in three heavily contaminated sites with potential toxic metals and metalloids (Zn, Pb, Cd, As, TI) in the mining district of Les Malines in the Languedoc region (southern France). Extremely high concentrations were found at different places such as the Les Aviniéres tailing basins (up to 160,000 mg kg-1 Zn, 90,000 mg kg-1 Pb, 9,700 mg kg-1 of As and 245 mg kg-1 of Tl) near a former furnace. Metal contamination extended several kilometres away from the mine sites probably because of the transport of toxic mining residues by wind and water. Spontaneous vegetation growing on the three mine sites was highly diversified and included 116 plant species. The vegetation cover consisted of species also found in non-contaminated soils, some of which have been shown to be metaltolerant ecotypes (Festuca arvernensis, Koeleria vallesiana and Armeria arenaria) and several Zn, Cd and Tl hyperaccumulators such as Anthyllis vulneraria, Thlaspi caerulescens, Iberis intermedia and Silene latifolia. This latter species was highlighted as a new thallium hyperaccumulator, accumulating nearly 1,500 mg kg-1. These species represent a patrimonial interest for their potential use for the phytoremediation of toxic metal-polluted areas.