Monitoring of Some Heavy Metals in the Water and Three Submerged Plants of the Southern Part of Lake Manzala

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Suez University, Faculty of Fish Resources, Egypt

Abstract

Due to their potential to absorb and accumulate toxic heavy metals, three species of submerged aquatic plants, namely Potamogeton pectinatus L., Ceratophyllum demerssum L, and Myriophyllum spicatum L., were collected from ten different locations at the southern part of Lake Manzala and checked for the presence of heavy metals contents (Zn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Cd); the values of contents, should they exist, were expressed as mg/g dry weight of the analyzed plant. The studied metals were also detected in water samples. Potamogeton pectinatus and Myriophyllum spicatum are the most active in absorbing of Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni, and Cu, respectively. Ceratophyllum demerssum immensely absorbed Fe and Pb. The presented study reveals that the submerged plants critically absorb and displace heavy metals from marine environments and they probably reduced the effect of high concentrations of these metals on the lake ecosystem. The submerged plants could be used as bioindicators; bioaccumulating agents for heavy metals in polluted water. It can be used in the sustainable management of water streams.

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