Original paper
Chemical compositions of aquatic macrophytes from the Danube River and their role in biomonitoring and bioremediation
Pajevic, S.; Igic, R.; Stankovic, Z.; Vulkov, D.; Krstic, B; Roncevic, S.
Large Rivers Vol. 18 No. 1-2 (2008), p. 351 - 360
14 references
published: May 21, 2008
ArtNo. ESP142016601022, Price: 29.00 €
Abstract
The aim of this investigation was to provide the data on the status of ecological conditions referring to a possible chemical contamination of water and littoral by analysing the content of nutrients and heavy metals in tissue of dominant aquatic macrophytes (mostly Potamogeton species) of nine littoral sites of the Serbian part of the Danube River. Also, our aim was to define the role of the macrophytic vegetation in remediation of pollutants, nutrients and heavy metals, in particular, from water and sediments. Sampling sites were selected to assess the effect of anthropogenic activities upon the quality of the Danube water and therefore upon plant world. An elevation of the Danube organic load was confirmed by nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) content in plant tissue. In general, P concentrations were rather low, amounting mainly to about 0. 25 %. Purification efficacy and the degree of uptake and accumulation of studied heavy metals relied upon the investigated species and sampling site. Fe accumulation in all the studied species was extremely high (about 2 % in Potamogeton species). The linear regression points to an increase in Mn concentrations at downstream sites (approaching the hydroelectric power station). The distribution of plant tissue Pb and Cd pointed to an elevation of water and littoral pollution at downstream sites. A significantly elevated contamination with heavy metals, of downstream sites, is due to the metallurgical complex-steelworks, wastewaters from power station, municipal and rural localities along the Danube River in Serbia.