Main contaminants originated from these activities are Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb (Watmough and Dickinson 1995; Weissenhorn and Leyval 1995). Excess trace elements can interfere with the metabolism of plants and the soil biota, affecting the food chain and inhibiting a variety of physiological and biochemical processes, thus altering the functionality and sustainability of the ecosystems (Friedlova ´ 2010). Excess of trace elements in soil can hind or even prevent vegetation to establish, because in excess, even essential metals to the normal metabolism, interfere with the functioning of both plants and soil biota (Hodson 2013).