The exploitation of mineral resources is very important for economic development, but disorderly exploitation poses a serious threat to the ecological environment. However, investigations on the advantages of plant species and environmental pollution in polluted mining areas are limited. Thus, a survey was conducted to evaluate the impacts of abandoned mines on the surrounding ecological environment along rivers in polluted areas and to determine the Arsenic (As) pollution status in soil and plants. The results showed that the soil and vegetation along the river in the survey area were seriously polluted by As. The total As content of the 15 samples was significantly greater than the national soil background value (GB 15618-2018), and degree of pollution was nonlinearly related to the distance from the mine source, R2 = 0.9844. B. bipinnata, P. vittata and B. nivea were predominant with degrees of dominance of 0.01–0.33, 0.05–0.11, and 0.06–0.14 respectively. The As enrichment capacities of Juncus and P. vittata were significantly greater than those of the other plants, while the bioaccumulation factors (BCFs) were 21.81 and 7.04, respectively. Display omitted •The As pollution status of plants and soil in mine polluted area was evaluated by comprehensive investigation.•The degree of soil pollution was found to have a non-linear relationship with the distance from the mine source, with a high correlation (R2 = 0.9844).•B. bipinnata, P. vittata and B. nivea are dominant species in As-contaminated soils.•Juncus and P. vittata were found to have significantly higher Arsenic (As) enrichment capacity compared to other plant species.