Heavy metal contamination of Lake George (Uganda) and its wetlands

Denny, Patrick; Bailey, R. G.; Tukahirwa, E.M.; Mafabi, Paul

doi:10.1007/bf00019287

Cited by 25 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Cu is easily mobilised and transported in solution to downstream locations including the Lake (Lwanga, et al, 2003). In the lake, metals are likely to enter into the food chain and enter the fish tissues (Denny, et al, 1995). In Kampala, Pb concentration in the effluents from a battery manufacturing industry was 5600 µg/L with corresponding Zn and Cu concentrations of 390 µg/L and 800 µg/L, respectively.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni contamination in wetland soils and plants in the Lake Victoria basin

Nabulo

Origa

Nasinyama

et al. 2007

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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ABSTRACT:The impact of waste disposal on trace metal contamination was investigated in eleven wetlands in the Lake Victoria Basin. Samples of soil, water and plants were analysed for total Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni concentrations using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The trace metal concentrations in soil were the highest in Katanga wetland with the highest mean concentrations of 387.5±86.5 mg/kg Zn, 171.5±36.2 mg/kg Pb, 51.20±6.69 mg/kg Cu and 21.33±2.23 mg/kg Ni compared to the lowest levels observed at Butabika (30.7±3.2 mg/kg Zn, 15.3±1.7 mg/kg Pb, 12.77±1.35 mg/kg Cu and 6.97±1.49 mg/kg Ni). Katanga receives waste from multiple industrial sources including a major referral city hospital while Butabika is a former solid waste dumpsite. Wetland soil near a copper smelter had a Cu concentration of 5936.3±56.2 mg/kg. Trace metal concentrations in industrial effluents were above international limits for irrigation water with the highest concentrations of 357,000 µg/L Cu and 1480 µg/L Zn at a Cu smelter and 5600 µg/L Pb at a battery assembling facility compared to the lowest of 50 µg/L Cu and 50 µg/L Zn in water discharged from Wakaliga dumpsite. Uptake of trace metals from soil differed from plant to plant and site to site. Higher levels of trace metals accumulated in the root rather than in the rhizome and the least amount was in the leaf. The study identifies industry as a potential source of trace metal contamination of water and the environment pent-up need for policy intervention in industrial waste management .

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni contamination in wetland soils and plants in the Lake Victoria basin

Nabulo

Origa

Nasinyama

et al. 2007

Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Simpson (1996, 1997a, b), Polprasert et al (1996), and Scholes et al(1998) reported that roots of wetland plants are very important in wastewater purification and phytostabilisation of metal contaminants, followed by stem and leaves. Barley et al (2005) and Denny et al (1995) also reported that metal uptake was higher in the roots.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Grill et al (1985) reported that excess heavy metals are bound to the cell wall by metathiolate formation through mercaptide complexes. Briggs et al (1961), Denny (1987), and Denny et al (1995), studied electron micrographs of Potamogeton crispes L. and Potamogeton pectinatus L. (submerged plants) tissues and reported that lead was taken from the sediments and translocated to leaf tips, dead regions, and lower older leaves. Sharpe and Denny (1976) and Welsh and Denny (1979) reported that most of the metal uptake by plant tissue is by absorption to anionic sites in the cell walls and the metals do not enter the living plant.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Performance of Three Aquatic Plant Species in Bench-scale Acid Mine Drainage Wetland Test Cells

Sheoran

2006

Mine Water and the Environment

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We investigated pollutant removal from acid mine drainage (AMD) by three different aquatic plant species (Typha angustifolia, Desmostachya bipinnata, and Sacharum bengalense) in bench-scale wetland test cells of 1 m 3 . AMD was generated in the laboratory using chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite ore. A substrate containing 75% soil, 20% powdered goat manure, and 5% wood shavings was used in each cell. The performance of the system was evaluated for different water column heights (100, 150, and 200 mm) and for different retention periods (24, 48, 72, 96, and 168 hrs). The performance of the plant species was different for the various metals of AMD; therefore, multi-species plantings should be considered in constructed wetlands.

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“…Other metals have not been so well studied, and there is a lack of information regarding aspects such as the effects of plants on the distribution of these metals. Chromium (Cr) in trivalent form, cobalt (Co), and nickel (Ni) are considered as essential elements when present at trace levels; however, when present at excessive levels, these metals are toxic to living organisms, and are considered as contaminants to soil, surface water, and groundwater (Denny et al, 1995;KabataPendias & Pendias, 2001). Co and Ni are released into the atmosphere from the combustion of coal and oil and from metal-processing operations, whereas Cr is released by various sources, of which the main ones are industrial waste and municipal sewage sludge (Kabata-Pendias & Pendias, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The role of two Spartina species in phytostabilization and bioaccumulation of Co, Cr, and Ni in the Tinto–Odiel estuary (SW Spain)

et al. 2011

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Vascular plants in salt marshes strongly influence processes of heavy metal accumulation. Many studies have focused on this issue; however, there is a lack of information regarding the effects of plants on the distribution of certain poorly studied metals, such as Co, Cr, and Ni. The aim of this study was to comparatively evaluate the capability of Spartina densiflora Brongn. and Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald, to accumulate Co, Cr, and Ni and influence the sediment composition around their roots, investigating whether the observed behavior can change with different levels of sediment pollution. Concentrations of Co, Cr, and Ni were determined in tissues of S. densiflora and S. maritima and in sediments and rhizosediments from the Odiel and Tinto marshes (SW Spain), one of the estuaries most polluted by heavy metals in the world. Concentrations of Co, Cr, and Ni in the belowground tissues of both Spartina species were higher than those in aboveground tissues in all sites sampled. Both species showed potential for phytostabilization of Co, possibly by promoting the formation of high amounts of Fe-oxides in the rhizosphere, which can act to retain the metal within the sediment around the roots. In addition, both Spartina species were found to accumulate Co in their roots, thereby avoiding the translocation of this metal to photosynthetic tissues. At the Tinto marsh, there were no differences recorded in metal levels between sediments and rhizosediments of both species, a fact that could be explained by the extremely high background levels of metals at this site, which may impair the ability of the plant to alter the chemistry of the sediment in contact with the roots. The potential for the immobilization of a large amount of Co in the soil, exhibited by S. densiflora and S. maritima, indicates that both species could be highly useful in the phytostabilization of Co contaminated environments.

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Heavy metal contamination of Lake George (Uganda) and its wetlands

Cited by 25 publications

References 19 publications

Assessment of Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni contamination in wetland soils and plants in the Lake Victoria basin

Assessment of Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni contamination in wetland soils and plants in the Lake Victoria basin

Performance of Three Aquatic Plant Species in Bench-scale Acid Mine Drainage Wetland Test Cells

The role of two Spartina species in phytostabilization and bioaccumulation of Co, Cr, and Ni in the Tinto–Odiel estuary (SW Spain)

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