Laboratory Study of Heavy Metal Phytoremediation by Three Wetland Macrophytes

Abstract

Detention ponds and constructed wetlands have proven to be effective in reducing peak stormwater runoff volume and flow, and recent interest has extended to utilizing them to improve stormwater runoff quality. A review of stormwater runoff studies indicated that lead, zinc, copper, cadmium, phosphorus, and chloride are contaminants of primary concern. In laboratory settings, the uptake of contaminants by three wetland plant species, Glyceria grandis, Scirpus validus, and Spartina pectinata, was examined and removal rates from nutrient solutions inflow and nonflow reactors were measured. The removal rates varied by plant species and target contaminant, and no one species was the best accumulator of all six contaminants. Belowground tissues of all three species accumulated higher concentrations of the four heavy metals and aboveground tissues accumulated higher concentrations of phosphorus and chloride. Plants grown in flow reactors showed significantly higher accumulation rates than those grown in nonflow reactors. Also, plants grown hydroponically accumulated higher concentrations of the six target contaminants than those grown in sand reactors. However, those grown in sand had a much greater increase of biomass and removed a greater mass of the six target contaminants. Removal rates measured in these experiments can be used to design detention ponds to maximize stormwater remediation.

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

“…Although extensive studies have been made of contamination by heavy metals, most of these have focused on elements such as As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn, which are considered to be the most harmful to human health (Hu, 2002;Weiss et al, 2006). 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.…”

Trace Metal Concentration and Speciation in Storm Water Runoff on Impervious Surfaces

“…Fungi degrade TNT via the actions of nonspecific extracellular enzymes and for production of these enzymes growth substrates (cellulose, lignin) are needed. (Van Metre, Mahler 2003;Weiss et al 2006;Kayhanian et al 2008). soil is excavated, homogenised and supplemented with nutrients) (Baldrian 2008).…”

Effects of temperature on metal tolerance and the accumulation of Zn and Pb by metal-tolerant fungi isolated from urban runoff treatment wetlands

“…plant uptake and microbial-mediated reactions) pollutant removal processes take place. Constructed wetlands have been used to remove metals from domestic wastewater (Bragato et al 2006), from acid mine drainage (Whitehead et al 2005;Sheoran and Sheoran 2006), metalcontaminated urban stormwater runoff (Birch et al 2004;Lee et al 2006;Weiss et al 2006) and from highway runoff (Pontier et al 2004;Revitt et al 2004). The removal efficiencies vary for different metals with 48% being observed for Ni (Lesage et al 2007), 83% for Pb (Nelson et al 2006) to over 90% for Fe (Whitehead et al 2005) and Al (Lesage et al 2007).…”