Assessment of environmental effects of the coal used in the Seyitomer thermal power plant (Turkey) on white willow

Abstract

Thermal power plants increase local pollution through SO x , NO x , volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and oils containing primarily particulates (including heavy metals) and increase global pollution through CO2 , the greenhouse gas that causes global warming. These strong pollutants have harmful effects on living organisms and the entire ecosystem. In this study, we analysized the heavy metals iron (Fe), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and sulfur (S) induced by sulfur dioxide found in the both washed and unwashed leaves of Salix alba L. tree, grown in six distinct localities in the vicinity of the Seyitomer thermal power plant, to assess the environmental impact. All parameters were examined in the surface soils (0-30 cm), and the most intense concentration of the pollutants in both soils and leaves was observed to be in the direction of the prevailing wind.