Heavy metals accumulation in aquatic macrophytes from an urban lake in Kashmir Himalaya, India

Abstract

Pollution of aquatic systems by heavy metals strongly affects food chain relationships through the process of biomagnification. In this study, the concentration of various heavy metals like Iron (Fe), Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), and Cobalt (Co) was determined in water and their sequestration capability was evaluated using three aquatic macrophytes Potamogeton crispus, Phragmites australis, and Ceratophyllum demersum in Nigeen Lake, Kashmir Himalaya. The concentration of different heavy metals was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The concentration of heavy metals in water was in the order of Pb > Fe > Zn > Cd > Mn > Cu > Cr > Co. In water, the concentration of Cd, Co, Fe, Pb, and Mn was above the permissible limits for drinking water set by World Health Organization (WHO). The concentration of accumulated heavy metals in Potamogeton crispus was in the order of Fe > Zn > Mn > Pb > Cr > Cd = Cu > Co. Phragmites australis showed the accumulation pattern as Fe > Zn > Mn > Cd > Pb > Cu > Cr > Co and Ceratophyllum demersum accumulated heavy metals in the order as Fe > Zn > Pb > Mn > Co > Cr > Cd > Cu. The study suggests that all the three macrophytic species viz: Potamogeton crispus, Phragmites australis, and Ceratophyllum demersum have the high potential to accumulate heavy metals and can be effectively used to remediate contaminated soils, wastewaters, and aquatic ecosystems.