INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES Volume 5, No 2, 2014
© Copyright by the authors - Licensee IPA- Under Creative Commons license 3.0
Research article
ISSN 0976 – 4402
Absorption potential for heavy metals by selected ferns associated with
Neyyar River (Kerala), South India
Prasannakumari A.A1, Gangadevi T2, Jayaraman P.R3
1- Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute Palode,
Thiruvananthapuram
2- Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Thiruvananthapuram
3- H. H. The Maharaja’s University College, Thiruvananthapuram
[email protected]
doi: 10.6088/ijes.2014050100023
ABSTRACT
Heavy metals are essential for proper functioning of the biological systems and their
deficiency or excess could lead to a number of disorders. Aquatic environment is
contaminated by heavy metals; mainly originate from mining activities, intensive agricultural
practices, discharge of untreated industrial effluents and application of sewage sludge and
indiscriminate disposal of domestic and municipal wastes. The objective of the study is to
analyze the absorption potential for heavy metals by selected ferns associated with Neyyar
River. Acrostichum aureum Lam, Adiantum latifolium L., Blechnum orientale L. and
Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link were collected from four different locations along
Neyyar River and analyzed different trace metals such as copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium
and lead for a period of one year. The study revealed that all the four species analyzed were
with high absorption potential for these metals and can be used as bioindicators for trace
metal pollution.
Keywords: Neyyar River, Ferns, Copper, Zinc, Cadmium, Chromium, Lead.
1. Introduction
Heavy metal pollution is an issue of international distress at present. The discharge of
untreated and contaminated sewage and industrial effluent is one of the most significant
reasons for heavy metal pollution of ecosystems and irrigated lands. Today phytoremediation has been received much attention for its potential to clean up the contaminated
sites by absorbing the trace metals. Application of water hyacinth to asses cadmium pollution
in Chennai city (Rama and Rajeswari, 2001), potential of algae as biosorbent for removal of
heavy metals (Ashfaq and Saadia, 2011), determination of heavy metals in the bioindicator
plant Tradescantia pallida var. purpurea (De Luccia, 2012), effect of chromium and
amendments on yield and heavy metal contents in different parts of rice (Parmar and patel,
2012), distribution and abundance of copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium and lead content in
Lagenandra ovata (Prasannakumari et al., 2012), Potentiality of Marigold for lead
phytoextraction from artificially contaminated soil (Saxena et al., 2012), effect of cyclic use
of sewage water on growth, yield and heavy metal accumulation in cabbage (Yadav et al.,
2012), trace metal accumulation efficiency of selected macroflora associated with Poovar
estuary (Prasannakumari et al., 2014), distribution and abundance of trace metals in the
macroflora of an aquatic system (Arathy et al., 2014) etc are few among them. The objective
of the present study is to analyze heavy metal absorption potential of four selected ferns
Received on June 2014 Published on September 2014
270
Absorption potential for heavy metals by selected ferns associated with Neyyar River (Kerala), South India
Acrostichum aureum Lam, Adiantum latifolium L., Blechnum orientale L. and Pityrogramma
calomelanos (L.) Link collected along the sides of Neyyar River.
2. Materials and method
The state of Kerala, popularly known as God’s Own Country is blessed with 44 rivers, among
them Neyyar River is the southernmost one. It has a length of 56 Km (latitude 80 16’ to 80
40 ’N and longitude 770 5’ to 77016 ’E.), originating from the Agasthyamala flows through
the midland and lowland and finally joins the Lakshadweep Sea at Poovar. Acrostichum
aureum Lam, Adiantum latifolium L., Blechnum orientale L. and Pityrogramma calomelanos
(L.) Link were collected from four different locations along Neyyar River for a period of one
year. Voucher specimens were identified by Dr. Raju Antony, Pteridologist, Jawaharlal
Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute Palode, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
Thoroughly washed, dried and powdered plant samples were used for different elemental
analyses such as copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium and lead following the methods in APHA
(1992).
3. Results and discussion
3.1 Copper
Among the four species analyzed the maximum seasonal value (Figure 1) of copper (27.25
µg g-1) was registered in Acrostichum aureum Lam. during postmonsoon season. Results
obtained during the present study remained well within the observations of Thomas and
Fernandez (1997) in Avicennia officinalis (6.20 and 38.00 µg g-1) and Sonneratia caseolaris
(16.1 and 45.2 µg g-1) and Prasannakumari et al (2014) in selected macroflora associated with
the Poovar Estuary (8.07 and 42.75 µg g-1).
Figure 1: Seasonal variation of copper content in selected ferns
Comparatively higher concentrations were reported by Thomas and Fernandez (1997) in
Barringtonia racemosa (12.70 and 103.50 µg g-1), Munshi et al. (1998) in Vallisnaria spiralis
(194.00 and 2055.10 µg g-1), Potamogeton pusillus (221.10 and 661.00 µg g-1), P. pectinatus
(452.30 and 1194.00 µg g-1) and Hydrilla verticillata (100.00 and 560.00 µg g-1) and
Prasannakumari et al (2012) in Lagenandra ovata (24.00 and 87.00 µg g-1). The major source
of copper contamination is industrial effluents, waste products, mining and mineral leaching.
Comparatively lower values observed in the present study than the above findings may be due to
the absence of industrial effluents and mineral leaching. Plants normally contain about 5 µg g-1
copper with a range of 4 – 15 µg g-1 and a toxic limit of 30 µg g-1 (Leeper, 1978). In the
present findings postmonsoon values of all the four species, monsoon values of Blechnum
orientale L. and Adiantum latifolium L. and premonsoon value of Pityrogramma calomelanos
Prasannakumari A.A, Gangadevi T, Jayaraman P.R
International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 5 No.2, 2014
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Absorption potential for heavy metals by selected ferns associated with Neyyar River (Kerala), South India
(L.) Link remained higher when compared to the above findings indicating the copper
absorption potential of the species.
3.2 Zinc
Seasonal values of zinc (Figure 2) ranged from 17.60 in Pityrogramma calomelanos
(monsoon) to 47.63 µg g-1 in Adiantum latifolium L. (postmonsoon). Present observations
remained lower when compared to the findings of Munshi et al. (1998) in Vallisnaria spiralis
(804.20 and 1751.20 µg g-1), Potamogeton pusillus (41.20 and 1065.00 µg g-1), P. pectinatus
(63.00 and 176.10 µg g-1), Hydrilla verticillata (108.0 and 380.0 µg g-1), St. Cyr and
Campbell (1994) in V. americana (91.00 and 130.00 µg g-1) in Lawrence river (Canada) and
Prasannakumari et al (2012) in Lagenandra ovata (67.00 and 1224 µg g-1) collected from
Neyyar river. The present findings are more or less in agreement with the observations of
Thomas and Fernandez (1997) in mangroves (18.0 and 67 µg g-1) collected from Kumarakom
and Quilon and Prasannakumari et al (2014) in selected macrophytes (20.10- 88.13 µg g-1)
associated with the Poovar Estuary. Zinc content in plants normally ranged between 8 and 15
µg g-1 with a toxic limit of 500 µg g-1 (Leeper, 1978). In the present study all the four species
showed higher concentration of zinc than the normal range but within the toxic limit
irrespective of season and can be used as bioindicators for zinc.
Figure 2: Seasonal variation of zinc in selected ferns
3.3 Cadmium
Seasonal data (Figure 3) on cadmium ranged from 19.70 in Acrostichum aureum to 123.50
µg g-1 in Adiantum latifolium during premonsoon and monsoon respectively. Comparatively
lower concentration than the present findings were reported by St. Cyr and Campbell (1994)
in V. americana (2.00 and 3.30 µg g-1), Heydt (1977) in Potamogeton pectinatus (0.13 and
1.29 µg g-1) and P. crispus (0.21 and 1.25 µg g-1) and Chakrabarti et al. (1993) in Avicennia
marina (1.00 and 2.00 µg g-1), Porteresia coarctata (0.90 µg g-1), Cariops decandra (3.00 µg
g-1), Aegialitis rotundifolia (2.00 µg g-1) and Acanthus ilicifolius (2.40 µg g-1).
Present results are in agreement with the reports of Prasannakumari et al (2012 & 2014) in
Lagenandra ovata (29.00 and 96.00 µg g-1) and various other macrophytes (17.52 and 111.00
µg g-1). Cadmium content in all the four species recorded during the present study remained
higher when compared to the common range of cadmium in plants (0.20 to 1.80 µg g-1)
suggested by Leeper (1978) and exceed the toxic limit of 100.00 µg g-1 in Blechnum orientale
and Adiantum latifolium during monsoon season. This indicated the absorption potential for
cadmium by the particular species and can be used as bioindicators for cadmium toxicity.
Prasannakumari A.A, Gangadevi T, Jayaraman P.R
International Journal of Environmental Sciences Volume 5 No.2, 2014
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Absorption potential for heavy metals by selected ferns associated with Neyyar River (Kerala), South India
Figure 3: Seasonal variation of cadmium in selected ferns
3.4 Chromium
Seasonal values (Figure 4) of chromium varied from 11.38 to 66.00 µg g-1 in Blechnum
orientale L. during postmonsoon and monsoon seasons. Values obtained during the present
study remained higher when compared to the reported values of Stenner and Nickless (1975)
in marine algae (1.00 and 13.00 µg g-1), Keller et al. (1998) in the leaves (0.10 µg g-1) and
roots (2.70 µg g-1) of Phragmites australis and Sivakumar et al. (2001) in the leaves (1.25 µg
g-1) and flowers (1.09 µg g-1) of Croton banplandianum.
Figure 4: Seasonal variation of chromium in selected ferns
Whereas higher values than the present observations were reported by Zhu et al. (1999) in the
shoot (119.00 µg g-1) and root (395.00 µg g-1) of Eichhornia crassipus. Present results are in
unison with the findings of Prasannakumari et al (2012 &2014) in Lagenandra ovata (17.00
and 57.00 µg g-1) and selected macrophytes from Poovar Estuary (30.75 and 59.50 µg g-1).
All the four species studied revealed higher accumulation of chromium than their normal
composition in plants (1.5 µg g-1) as suggested by Markert (1994) indicating the efficiency of
chromium accumulation.
3.5 Lead
Seasonal value (Figure 5) of lead ranged from a minimum of 13.38 in Acrostichum aureum
Lam. (postmonsoon) to a maximum of 116.00 in Blechnum orientale L. (monsoon). More or
less similar results were reported by Untawale et al. (1980) in Avicennia officinalis (66.08 µg
g-1) at Goa region, Forstner and Wittman (1983) in Ulva lactusa (18 µg g-1), Coquery and
Welbourn (1995) in Eriocaulon septangulare (2.5 and 62.8 µg g-1), Thomas and Fernandez
(1997) in Avicennia officinalis (75 to 225 µg g-1), Acanthua ilicifolius (25 to 125 µg g-1),
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (50 and 75 µg g-1), Sonneratia caseolaris (25 to 125 µg g/g) and
Prasannakumari A.A, Gangadevi T, Jayaraman P.R
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Absorption potential for heavy metals by selected ferns associated with Neyyar River (Kerala), South India
Baringtonia racemosa (25 to 200 µg g-1), Munshi et al. (1998) in Vallisnaria spiralis (60 to
82.1 µg g-1), Potamogeton pusillus (18 to 29 µg g-1), P. pectinatus (18.2 to 40.4 µg g-1), and
Hydrilla verticillata (18.2 to 82 µg g-1) and Prasannakumari et al (2012 & 2014) in Lagenandra
ovata (L.) Thwaites (3.00 122.00 µg g-1) and selected macrophytes from Poovar Estuary
(7.46 and 116.00 µg g-1).
Figure 5: Seasonal variation of lead in the selected ferns
Comparatively higher values than the present observations were reported by Jain et al. (1990)
in Azolla pinnata (158.00 to 7654.00 µg g-1) during a controlled experiment in lab and
Cymerman et al. (1991) in Scapania uliginosa (464.00 µg g-1) in streams in Poland, Belgium
and Germany. Lead content in all the four species analyzed in the present study remained
higher than the normal range in plants (0.10 to 10.0 µg g-1 – Leeper, 1978) indicating the lead
accumulation efficiency of the species.
4. Conclusion
On the basis of above findings, it can be concluded that all the 4 species analyzed during the
present study revealed higher absorption potential for all the five metals than their normal
concentration in plants suggesting to exploit these plants as bioindicators for metals. The
uptake and translocation of the element by the plants happened according to the quantity of
the element present in the surrounding. Surface runoff carrying allochthonous inputs and
automobile exhausts also account for the accumulation of lead. This may be the reason for
higher levels of lead accumulation in the entire four species analyzed. Natural weathering and
industrial processes are responsible for the entry of cadmium in the environment. The
monsoon high values recorded in the present study may be under the influence of the
terrigenous runoff carrying particulate metal. However the results demand the inquiry of
other elements in these species which could bring the potentiality of the species as
bioindicator for metal pollution.
Acknowledgement
Authors are grateful to the Principal, University College Thiruvananthapuram for providing
necessary laboratory facilities for the successful completion of the Research work and Dr.
Raju Antony, Pteridologist, JNTBGRI for identifying the voucher specimens.
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