Element transfer at the soil-plant interface and accumulation strategies of vegetation over growing mining waste dumps in the Upper Silesia area (Poland)

We describe new data constraining pat terns of interaction of soils and vegetation in post-coal-mining and post-smelting waste heaps of Upper Silesia. Mosses show the highest levels of many elements. We use 3 standard bioconcentration in dices to show directions of trans fer of both trace and major elements (53 in soils, 37 in plants) in par tic u lar plant organs. Solanum nigrum around organic-and S-rich fumaroles of the "Ruda" heap (Zabrze) shows 36 in dices with values >= 2 (31-element basis) suggesting the largest hyperaccumulation potential (HP), especially of Cd, Mo, Sr, Zn, Mn and Au; also Hg, U, Al, Ti, Fe, Cu, Au and few others. Verbascum (4 specimens) shows HP for Tl, Sb, Cd and Sr. It is the major scavenger of V, Cr, Co, Ni, Ga, As, Hg, P and Bi, and occasion ally of B, Hg, Au and Te. Crepis mollis shows evident affinity for W and Au, and Solidago gigantea for Ag. Anomalies of W are also present in mosses (2 specimens) and a grass, and of Au in one moss, Tussilago farfara and Eupatorium cannabinum. Most elements are transferred to leaves, with the partial exception of Cd and Tl. Variable behav iour is found for Cd, Tl, Cu, Se, Sr, Mo; Cu, Zn, B and W.