Abstract: The Xiangtan manganese (Mn) mine is the largest Mn mine in China and is the typical nonferrous metal mine in the southern China. This study collected the seasonal vegetables (Fruticicolidae, Brassica chinensis, Allium schoenoprasum, Ipomoea aquatica) of the Hongqi mining area and the Sha Kuang Cun recovery area of the Xiangtan Mn mine, the dominant plant of the waste area (Phytolacca acinosa, Crassocephalum crepidioides, Xanthium sibiricum) and the soil of three areas. The concentrations of Mn, lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were determined after acid digestion by hydride generation atomic fluorescent spectrometry. The results show the concentration of Mn(8.3-84.5 mg/kg)in vegetables of mining area was significantly higher than that(2.7-55.6 mg/kg)of recovery area. The vegetables of mining area and recovery area were polluted by Pb(0.6-33 mg/kg). The concentration range of Zn in vegetable was 1.9-6.5 mg/kg. The concentration of heavy metals in soil was significantly exceeded the standard value and Pb pollution(1 993.5-2 213.5 mg/kg)was the most serious in all. The concentration of Pb was 40 times of Chinese soil environmental quality standard value. The concentrations of heavy metals in Phytolacca acinosa, Crassocephalum crepidioides and Xanthium sibiricum were different and the tolerances of heavy metal were strong. These three plants were the dominant plant of soil contaminated by heavy metals of waste area. Three plants were good phytoremediation plant and Phytolacca acinosa had the best tolerance and growth in all. The concentrations of Mn and Zn in the above-ground part of Phytolacca acinosa were highest and the concentrations of Zn in the under-ground part of Crassocephalum crepidioides was highest in all plants. The result provides scientific basis for rational utilization and remediation of soils contaminated by heavy metals in Mn mine.

Key words: xiangtan mn mine, soil, vegetable, heavy metal, environmental safety, plant tolerance