Selected aquatic vascular plants as biological indicators for heavy metal pollution

Concentrations o f zinc, copper, cadmium, lead, nickel, iron and chromium in five submerged plants are presented. Metal enrichment was found to be dependent on the plant species and metal type. The uptake o f copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium and nickel from nutrient solutions enriched with these metals using Ottelia alismoides Pers., Fimbristylis pauciflora FT. Br. and Blyxa malayana Ridley was studied. All plants dem onstrated the ability to remove copper, zinc and cadmium more rapidly than chromium and nickel. Metal accumulation was a direct function o f the exposure level and varied with the plant species. The possible use o f Ottelia alismodes and Fimbristylis pauciflora as biological indicators o f water pollution is also discussed