Abstract
Heavy metal contamination is of special concern due to widespread reports emanating both from India and abroad about various diseases and disorders observed both in human and livestock due to metal toxicity. Land and water resources are worst affected due to anthropogenic interventions. Degradation of natural resources is perhaps one of the gravest lapses mankind has ever made in its journey of progress and civilization. The use of specially selected and engineered metal accumulating plant genotypes for environmental clean up is an emerging frontline technology called ‘Phytoremediation’ which describes a system wherein plants alone or in association with soil organisms can remove or transform contaminants into harmless and often valuable forms. Excessive heavy metal accumulation can be toxic to most plants leading to reduction in seed germination, root elongation and biomass production; inhibition of chlorophyll biosynthesis as well as disturbance in cellular metabolism and chromosome distortion. For studying the heavy metals load of sewage sludge and their effect on crop quality in relation to non applied sites, solid sludge and vegetable plants such as Momordica charantia (Bitter gourd), Cucumis sativus (Cucumber), Spinacia oleracea, Capsicum annuum (Chilli), Luffa cylindrical (Smooth gourd), Amaranthus viridis (Red Saag) and Basella spp. (Pui) were collected from seven sewage treatment plants (STPs) from West Bengal, India viz. Howrah, Garulia, Bhatpara, Nabadwip, Srirampur, Kona, Chandannager, and from the Periurban areas viz. Nadia/Chakdaha/Ektapur(N/C/E),Nadia/Chakdaha/Pumlia(N/C/P), Nadia/Chakdaha/Sikarpur(N/C/S), Nadia/Chakdaha/Tatla(N/C/T) and their heavy metal concentration was measured using atomic absorbtion spectrophotometer. The Overall results from all the sites of sampling suggest that Amaranthus has more scavenging capacity for Cd and Pb, while Spinacia oleracea for Cr. Therefore, if these plant genotypes are cultivated in sites abundant with above heavy metals, these would scavenge the heavy metal toxicity from the soil.
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