Water hyacinth as indicator of heavy metal pollution the tropics

Journal Article · Thu Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1989 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01702064· OSTI ID:6788971

Gonzalez, H; Otero, M ^[1]; Lodenius, M ^[2]

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1. Institute of Transport Investigations, Havana (Cuba)
2. Univ. of Helsinki (Finland)

The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is a common aquatic plant in many tropical countries. Its ability absorb nutrients and other elements from the water has made it possible to use it for water purification purposes. Eichhornia, especially stems and leaves, have been successfully used as indicators of heavy metal pollution in tropical countries. The uptake of heavy metals in this plant is stronger in the roots than in the floating shoots. Metallothionein-like compounds have been found from roots of this species after cadmium exposure. The purpose of this investigation was to study the possibilities of using roots of water hyacinth as a biological indicator of metal pollution in tropical aquatic ecosystems.

• OSTI ID: 6788971
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA), Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA) Vol. 43:6; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
COPPER COMPOUNDS
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
LILIOPSIDA
MAGNOLIOPHYTA
METALS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
QUANTITATIVE CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
ROOTS
SPECTROSCOPY
TRANSITION ELEMENT COMPOUNDS
WATER HYACINTHS
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC COMPOUNDS