Phytoremediation of Trace Metals in Shadawanka Stream of Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria
Journal Title: Universal Journal of Environmental Research and Technology - Year 2011, Vol 1, Issue 2
Abstract
Environment has great impact on our health through the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. The number of contaminants entering the environment has increased greatly in Nigeria in recent times and this is due to increasing population, urbanization, industrialization, modern agricultural practices and transportation activities. Major among these contaminants are heavy metals which are potential health hazard to the populace and 60- 80% of heavy metal toxins found in human bodies were the results of consuming contaminated food and water rather than through air pollution. Contaminants in soil or water environment could be cleaned up using plants. The Shadawanka stream is a major stream in the heart of Bauchi metropolis, Nigeria used for domestic, irrigation and for aquatic organisms. Heavy metal accumulation studies in Nymphaea lotus (Water lily) were carried out from eight different locations along the stream using the Atomic Absorption spectrophotometric technique in the months of April-June 2003. The levels obtained for the metals were in the range of 79.80- 130.20mg/100g for Zinc, 50.19- 69.90mg/100g for Lead, 53.60- 58.20mg/100g for Iron and 7.21- 8.9mg/100g for Cadmium. The results showed that the plant has high tendency to selectively bioaccumulate Zinc and Lead thus suggesting that it could be used to monitor Zinc and Lead levels in the stream. The present study indicates that the plant has high potential to selectively uptake lead and zinc faster than cadmium and iron in the stream.
Authors and Affiliations
Usman O. A. Shuaibu and Abdus-Salam Nasiru
Keywords
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