The aim of the study was to compare the phytoextraction abilities of six tree species (Acer platanoides L., Acer pseudoplatanus L., Betula pendula Roth, Quercus robur L., Tilia cordata Miller, Ulmus laevis Pall.), cultivated on mining sludge contaminated with arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), thallium (Tl), and zinc (Zn). All six tree species were able to survive on such an unpromising substrate. However, A. platanoides and T. cordata seedlings grown on the polluted substrate showed significantly lower biomass than control plants (55.5 and 45.6%, respectively). As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Tl predominantly accumulated in the roots of all the analyzed tree species with the following highest contents: 1616, 268, 2432, 547, and 856 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. Zn was predominantly localized in shoots with the highest content of 5801 and 5732 mg kg⁻¹ for U. laevis and A. platanoides, respectively. A. platanoides was the most effective in Zn phytoextaction, with a bioconcentration factor (BCF) of 8.99 and a translocation factor (TF) of 1.5. Furthermore, with the exception of A. pseudoplatanus, the analyzed tree species showed a BCF > 1 for Tl, with the highest value for A. platanoides (1.41). However, the TF for this metal was lower than 1 in all the analyzed tree species. A. platanoides showed the highest BCF and a low TF and could, therefore, be a promising species for Tl phytostabilization. In the case of the other analyzed tree species, their potential for effective phytoextraction was markedly lower. Further studies on the use of A. platanoides in phytoremediation would be worth conducting.

The chemical composition of wood depends on many factors, including plant growth conditions. Among the many dangerous elements it was decided in this study to select arsenic in various forms: As(III), As(V) and cacodylic acid (DMAA), as well as various concentrations and mutual combinations. The experiment was conducted on 1-year old elm seedlings planted in pots with an addition of Knop medium and arsenic. Supplementation of the substrate with each arsenic form caused changes in contents of cellulose and lignin as well as extractive substances and those soluble in 1% NaOH. Arsenic also led to changes in the structure of basic wood components. The FTIR analysis showed the greatest changes under the influence of As(V), As(III)/As(V)/DMA. Despite high arsenic concentration in the substrate 1-year old elm seedlings survived the period of the experiment, thus providing valuable results and broadening our knowledge on the response of trees to the environment contaminated with arsenic.