Translocations of Heavy Metals in Aquatic Macrophytes Naturally Grown in the Riverine Ecosystem

Abstract

The ever-increasing need to remediate contaminated aquatic ecosystems culminates in identifying economical, readily available, and efficient biological material, and aquatic macrophytes are one of them. To keep in mind, the authors have identified four aquatic macrophytes, viz., Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, Potamogeton pectinatus L., Ranunculus sceleratus L., and Mimulus glabratus Kunth, which can reduce heavy metals levels in River Gomti. In the current study, surface water and aquatic macrophytes samples were collected from Gaughat to Gomti Barrage in River Gomti. The physicochemical characteristics of surface water were found in the range of pH = 6.35–8.79, dissolved oxygen = 1.58–4.5-mg/L, and fecal coliform = 4.3 × 104 MPN/100 ml, whereas total dissolved solids (TDS) and total suspended solids (TSS) were recorded moderate to high. Whereas metals concentration (mg/L) in surface water ranged from Fe: 1.5–80, Cu: 0.012–0.066, Cd: 0.02–0.24, and As: 0.028–0.40 at different sam-pling sites. Heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, and As) content was also estimated in order to assess the ability of aquatic macrophytes (Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royle, Potamogeton pectinatus L., Ranunculus sceleratus L., and Mimulus glabratus Kunth) to absorb the metals in their tissues. The highest concentration (μgg-1)of Fe, Cd, Cu, and As was recorded at Gomti Barrage, Mohan Meakin, and Daliganj Pul. In contrast, other plants have shown selective absorption patterns of heavy metals in their tissues. Further translocation factors revealed that higher levels of metals were concentrated in roots instead of shoot. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.