Uptakes of Pb and Cu by Indigenous Aquatic Plants from Natural Habitats

The potential of four indigenous aquatic plants to serve as a phytoremediation plant in uptake heavy metals from natural habitat areas was evaluated in this study. These indigenous aquatic plants M. hastata, I. aquatica, E. crassipes and S. mucronatus were chosen as they can easily be obtained and well spread in the environment in Sabah. The concentration of heavy metals Pb and Cu were determined in these macrophytes collected from 3 different areas; M. hastata and I. aquatica (Likas Lagoon), E. crassipes (disused paddy field Kg Tagas, Tuaran) and S. mucronatus (Acid Mine Drainage, Mamut Sabah). The highest concentration was observed for heavy metal Pb in I. aquatica (356.98 ug/g) followed by S. mucronatus ( 40.25 ug/g), E. crassipes (22.33 ug/g) and M. hastata (21.51 ug/g). For metal Cu, the range of metal uptake are as descending order as M. hastata (29.17 ug/g)> S. mucronatus(6.35 ug/g)> I. aquatica (5.70 ug/g)> E. crassipes (4.84 ug/g). The results showed that all indigenous aquatic plants were able to accumulated high metals concentration in roots compared to leaves and stalks except for E. crassipes at paddy field Kg Tagas KK. The distribution of Pb and Cu in plant tissues (roots, leaves and stalks) and translocation factor (TF) of M. hastata, I. aquatica, E. crassipes and S. mucronatus were also discussed in this pape