Concentration and accumulation of some trace elements in water, sediment and two species of aquatic plants collected from the Main outfall drain, near the center of Al-Nassiriyia city/ Iraq

Abstract

Concentration and accumulation of seven trace elements (Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni, Fe, Mn and Zn) were measured in water (dissolved and particulate) phase, sediment and two species of aquatic plants phragmits australis and Ceratophylum demerssum collected during summer season, 2012 from the main outfall drain, some environmental parameter (Temperature, dissolved oxygen, salinity, pH) of water were measured, also total organic carbon TOC%, sediment texture were measured and expressed as percentage. Higher concentration of elements under study were observed in sediment more than their concentrations in water and plants, while particulate phase of water concentrated trace elements more than their concentration in dissolved phase, whereas the accumulation of trace elements in plants, showed that their concentration in phragmits australis was more than their concentration in Ceratophyllum demerssum. The study observed that it can use the two species of plants as bioindicator for accumulation of trace elements also the concentration of TE in the study samples were in acceptable range, when it compared with world wide range. The study showed that the possibility of using both plants to remove this type of pollutant from the aquatic environment and can be used in bioremediation for processes.