Cadmium and Lead level in Eichhornia crassipes from River Nun, Niger Delta, Nigeria

Eichhornia crassipes is an invasive plant with adventitious root system and constitute nuisances in the waterways. In the Niger Delta region of Nigeria, they have remained underutilized. This study assessed the level of cadmium and lead in Eichhornia crassipes from River Nun, Niger Delta, Nigeria. The samples were collected from five locations in three batches within six weeks and analyzed using standard analytical methods. Results showed that pH, temperature, cadmium and lead of the water samples ranged from 5.51 – 6.68, 27.60 – 29.57ºC, 0.003 – 0.167mg/l and 0.002 – 0.063 mg/l respectively. While the concentration of cadmium and lead in Eichhornia crassipes ranged from 0.022 – 0.045 mg/kg and 1.095 – 2.450 mg/kg respectively. Analysis of variance showed that there significance difference (P<0.05) across the three batches the samples were collected. The concentration of lead and cadmium in Eichhornia crassipes in relation to the water samples suggests that the plant is aiding the removal of these heavy metals (cadmium and lead) from the water. This study confirms the remediation potentials of Eichhornia crassipes in the purification of water