Abstract
Ipomoea aquatica is commonly used as a vegetable and pig food in Thailand. The present study shows that the leaves and floating stems of this plant collected near a caustic soda factory in Thailand had accumulated between 0.75 to 1.26 ppm (average 0.95 ppm) Hg in the leaves and 0.28 to 0.68 ppm (average 0.43 ppm) Hg in the floating stems. Leaves and floating stems from unpolluted areas had Hg contents between 0.01 to 0.17 ppm and 0.01 to 0.06 ppm, respectively. The contaminated I. aquatica in the study area represents an additional source of Hg, since fish from the same area are also polluted with Hg. This constitutes a serious risk to public health.
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Suckcharoen, S. Mercury accumulation in Ipomoea aquatica (forsk) near a caustic soda factory in Thailand. Water Air Soil Pollut 10, 451–455 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00250010
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00250010