ASSESSMENT OF <I>MELALEUCA CAJUPUTI</I> AS HEAVY METALS PHYTOREMEDIATOR FOR SEWAGE SLUDGE CONTAMINATED SOIL

Abstract

In 2011, total marine capture landings in Peninsular Malaysia decreased by 3.9% which amounted to 1,373,105 tonnes as compared to 1,428,881 tonnes in 2010. The decline is connected to marine pollution which mainly comes from land based sources. Coastal forests play an important role affecting the marine ecosystem health and need to be conserved as a buffer to minimize pollution input into marine ecosystem. Heath forest, a type of coastal forest that receives less attention compared to mangroves, also has similar role. <i>Melaleuca cajuputi</i> that dominates heath forest has high potential as a phytoremediator of heavy metals and also has high economic values. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the potential of this species to extract heavy metals namely Zn and Cd from soil. Four levels of treatment were prepared where the test media was mixed with different amounts of sewage sludge (v/v) namely; T1 (control-soil only), T2 (30% sludge +70% soil), T3 (50% sludge + 50% soil) and T4 (70% sludge + 30% soil). After 90 days of experimental period, the accumulation of Zn was found to be high in the roots (137.19 mg kg^-1), followed by the leaves (135.0 mg kg^-1) and stems (102.24 mg kg^-1). As for Cd the highest concentration was in the roots (2.05 mg kg^-1), stems (1.78 mg kg^-1) and leaves (1.66 mg kg^-1). The species Transfer Factor (TF) values in the greenhouse experiment were > 1 but the Bio-Concentration Factor (BCF) values are≤ 1. This result shows that <i>M. cajuputi</i> is tolerant to Zn and Cd toxicity (low BCF) but able to transfer these elements (high TF) to the shoots for removal by leaf fall or by harvesting the shoots. In addition, the accumulation of Zn and Cd were high in the roots which suggests that Zn and Cd were efficiently immobilized (in the roots) from entering the marine ecosystem

Heavy metal enrichment and remediation potential of <i>Jatropha curcas</i> Linn seedlings in dumpsite contaminated soil

“…It was observed that Jatropha curcas accumulated significant amounts Zn, Cu and Pb in their parts. Highest concentrations of these heavy metals were recorded in shoot than the root and this might be attributed to its importance in biochemical reactions especially in photosynthesis (Mohd et al,2013). The high concentrations of heavy metals in the shoots may indicate active translocation of these metals from roots to shoots.…”

Ketahanan Bibit Kayu Putih (Melaleuca cajuputi) pada Berbagai Media Tercemar Air Asam Tambang

“…Gambar 7 dan Gambar 8 tersebut menunjukkan bahwa semua perlakuan mengalami keguguran namun selanjutnya mengalami peningkatan jumlah daun baik secara cepat maupun lambat. Hal ini menunjukkan ketahanan bibit kayu putih yang cukup baik untuk bertahan pada kondisi tercemar air asam tambang sesuai dengan yang disampaikan Mohd et al (2013) bahwa bibit kayu putih dapat bertahan pada lahan yang tergenang dan terkontaminasi bahan berbahaya melalui proses fisiologisnya. Kayu putih mereduksi bahan berbahaya menjadi tidak berbahaya dan mengubahnya dalam bentuk biomassa khususnya biomassa di atas tanah atau pucuk.…”

Harmful Algal Blooms, Cause, Purpose and Solution from the Qur’anic Viewpoint and Marine Science: An Environmental Discourse

“…Sewage, toxic chemicals from industries, land runoff, large scale oil spills, ocean mining and littering also cause for contamination of seawater [38]. Most sources of marine pollution are land based [39,40], such as windblown debris, industrial / domestic pollutants discharged and potential spillovers from freight/ bulk ocean carriers. Other factors causing marine pollution are direct discharge of industrial waste & sewerage, land run of ship pollution, atmospheric pollution, deep sea mining, acidification, eutrophication, marine fish production, plastic debris [40].…”