Screening of Native Plant Species in the Artisanal Gold Mining Sites of Doko, Guinea: Perspectives for Phytoremediation

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ABSTRACT Artisanal gold mining in Doko, Guinea, has caused severe environmental degradation and soil contamination by potentially toxic metals. This study evaluated the phytoremediation potential of indigenous species growing on contaminated sites. Soil and plant samples (roots and shoots) were collected from six artisanal mining sites, selecting 12 dominant native species based on abundance and ecological relevance. In total, 358 samples were analyzed. Metal concentrations (As, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cd, Sb, Hg, and Fe) were measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). Phytoremediation efficiency was assessed using the bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC). Soils showed severe contamination, with arsenic and lead reaching 550 and 2300 mg/kg, exceeding WHO/FAO guidelines by 27‐ and 23‐fold, respectively. Arsenic was the main ecological risk contributor. No species met hyperaccumulator criteria. However, several species exhibited promising phytoremediation traits. Xanthocercis zambesiaca showed a BCF > 1 for Pb, indicating phytostabilization potential. Acacia ataxacantha , Hyptis suaveolens , and Mitragyna inermis showed TF > 1 for several metals, suggesting effective translocation. Multivariate analysis highlighted Mimosa pigra , X. zambesiaca , and Detarium senegalense as influencing metal mobility. Overall, Doko's native flora shows strong potential for phytostabilization and assisted phytoextraction, offering a realistic nature‐based solution for rehabilitating artisanal gold mining sites.

Ce résumé expose les affirmations des auteurs. BNTIC ne l’interprète pas comme une validation indépendante des résultats.