Invasive species may offer advanced phytoremediation of endocrine&lt;br&gt;disrupting chemicals in aquatic ecosystems

Rebecca Erber

doi:10.9755/ejfa.v25i9.16393

Abstract

Abstract One of the major areas of advancement in environmental science is bioremediation. Researchers have been using bacteria, fungi, algae and now macrophytes to remove pollutants from aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Here we share the results of a study on the macrophyte uptake of xenoestrogens from an urban river. We found that the invasive curly leaf pond weed ( Potamogeton illinoensis ) accumulated an average of 66% higher levels of estrogenic compounds and 94% more Bisphenol-A than the native Illinois pondweed ( Potamogeton crispus ) in an urban river, in the watershed for the greater Chicago, IL area. The invasive species accumulated 76%more estrone, 55% more 17 β-estradiol and 31% more 17 α-ethynylestradiol than the native species. The Non-native plants were also 72% larger than the native Illinois Pondweed. Managers may consider using invasive species to remove pollutants from ecosystems and restore ecosystem biogeochemistry. Key words : Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, Environmental Remediation, Invasive Species

Highlights

Examining ecosystem biogeochemistry and the alterations of biogeochemical cycles due to anthropogenic activities has become one of the most important fields within environmental science
Estrogenic compounds The concentration of estrogenic compounds present in the water varied from 1.2-20.1 ng/L (Table 1)
The concentration of estrogenic compounds present in the non-native P. crispus and the native P. illinoensis, were very low compared to the concentration of estrogenic compounds present in the water (Figure 1)

Summary

Introduction

Examining ecosystem biogeochemistry and the alterations of biogeochemical cycles due to anthropogenic activities has become one of the most important fields within environmental science. The ever-increasing anthropogenic load on environments calls for innovative strategies to remediate and restore ecosystems. Polluted aquatic ecosystems present some of the largest challenges to managers because of the ability of nutrients, organisms and pollutants to vary in concentration at different depths and mediums. Urban aquatic ecosystems have high rates of flux between the biosphere, hydrosphere and the atmosphere. Many pollutants flow into urban aquatic ecosystems from precipitation, run-off, and point sources. These pollutants may remain suspended in the water column, be taken up by aquatic organisms or accumulate in bottom sediments These pollutants may remain suspended in the water column, be taken up by aquatic organisms or accumulate in bottom sediments (i.e. Karickhoff et al, 1979)

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