Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination, Human Health Risks and Phytoremediation Potential of Lotus Plant (Nelumbo nucifera) from Vellayani Lake, South India
摘要
The present study investigates concentration of heavy metals in the lotus plant parts and sediment samples collected from Vellayani freshwater lake in south India. Our analysis reveals that the Lake is highly contaminated with heavy metals and these metals stay accumulated in different parts of lotus plant at very high concentrations. Maximum accumulation was observed in plant leaves and the distribution of heavy metals are in the order: Fe > Mn > Zn > Ni> Cu > Cd > Pb > Cr. The accumulation of heavy metals in the plant parts are in the order: root > leaves > flower > petioles > thalamus. The bioconcentration factor and translocation factor point out that the plant exhibits phytoremediation potential and consumption of the plant parts is harmful to humans due to high accumulation of heavy metals. Results reveals that this plant exhibits significant efficiency in heavy metal removal, suggesting its potential as an environmentally sound remediation strategy.