Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cadmium accumulation in eurasian watermilfoil plants

  • Published:
Water, Air, and Soil Pollution Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The aquatic vascular plant Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) was investigated for its potential to take up Cd from nutrient-rich water in a short-term growth and harvest regime. Eurasian watermilfoil plants were grown in and harvested weekly from 0.10M Hoagland nutrient solutions containing concentrations of Cd from 0.04 to 7.63μg Cd mL−1. Dry weights of plants significantly decreas4ed when exposed to 7.63μg Cd mL−1. For both 0.04 and 1.03μg Cd mL−1 treatment the greatest concentration of Cd in plants occurred during the first two weeks. The greatest Cd concentration of Cd in plants for the 7.63μg Cd ML−1 treatment occurred during week one and decreased through week 2. Tissue P concentration in control plants increased over time but did not increase significantly over time when plants were exposed to 0.04 and 1.03μg Cd mL−1 levels. Tissue P concentration decreased over time when plants were exposed to 7.63μg Cd mL−1. Stem length, root dry weights, and root number significantly increased over time in control plants and in those exposed to the 0.04 and 1.03μg Cd mL−1 treatments. Plants treated with 7.63μg Cd mL−1 did not grow. These results suggest that Eurasian watermilfoil would be useful for absorbing Cd from nutrient-rich water when the solution concentration was in the range of 0.04 to 7.63μg Cd mL−1. However, in solutions having the highest concentration of Cd, the harvest regime would have to sustain plant vigor, avoid tissue Cd loss, and realize maximum uptake of Cd from solution.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adriano, D. C.: 1986, inTrace Metals in the Terrestrial Environment, Springer-Verlag, New York, p. 470.

    Google Scholar 

  • Association of Official Agricultural Chemists: 1975,Methods ofAnalysis, A. O. A. C., Washington, D.C., p. 1004.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berry, W. L. and Wallace, A.: 1974,Trace Elements in the Environment — Their Role and Potential Toxicity as Related to Fossil Fuels — A Preliminary Study, Univ. of California at Los Angeles, CA, p. 66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chaney, R. L.: 1990,Biocycle 31, 68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, W., Recht, R. L. and Hajela, G. P.: 1977, ‘Metal Removal and Cynamide Destructin in Plating Wastewaters, Using Particle Bed Electrodes’, in M. F. Smith (ed.),Cadumium Pollution. National Technical Information Science publication, NO. PS-7711020, Springfiled, VA, p. 30.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chigbo, F. R., Smith, R. W. and Shore, F. L.: 1982.Environ. Pollut. 27, 31.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cooley, T. N. and Martin, D. F.: 1979,Chemosphere 2, 75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, W. E. and Associates: 1970,National Inventory of Sources and Emissions of Cadmium, Nickel and Asbestos, U.S. Dept. Health, Edu., and Welfare, Durham, NC, p. 51.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dymond, G. C.: 1948, ‘The Water-Hyacinth, A Cinderella of the Plant World’, in J. P. J. van Vuren, (ed.),Soil Fertility and Sewage, Dover Publishers, Inc., New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Epstein, E.: 1972,Mineral Nutrition of Plants: Principles and Perspectives, John Wiley & Sons Inc., New York, p. 65.

    Google Scholar 

  • Faoro, R. B. and McMullen, T. B.: 1977.National Trends in Trace Metals in Ambient Air, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Traingle Park, NC, p. 41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fassett, N. C. 1975,A Manual ofAquatic Plants, The Univ. of Wisconsin Press, Madison, WI, p. 405.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gakstatter, J. H., Allum, M. O., Cominquez, S. E. and Crouse, M. R.: 1978,J. Water Pollut. Contr. Fed. 50, 718.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hardy, J. K. and O'Keeffee, D. H.: 1985,Chemosphere 14, 417.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hem, J. D.: 1972,Water Resour. Res. 8, 661.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoagland, D. R. and Amon, D. I.: 1950,The Water Culture Method for Growing Plants Without Soil, Calif. (Berkeley) Agric. Exp. Stn. Circ., No. 347.

  • Jana S. and Chaudhury, M. A.: 1984,Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 21, 351.

    Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, C. M. and Ulrich, A.: 1959,Analytical Methods for Use in Plant Tissue Analysis, in Calif. (Berkeley) Agric. Exp. Stn. Bull, No. 766.

  • Klein, D. H. and Russell, P.: 1973,Environ. Sci. Technol. 7, 357.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, D. H., Andren, A. W. and Bolton, N. E.: 1975,Water, Air, and Soil Pollut. 5, 71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kniep, T. J. and Hirshfield, H. I.: 1975,Cadmium in Aquatic Ecosystems: Distribution and Effects, In D. D. Hemphill (ed.),Trace Substances in Environmental Health — VIII, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia, MO, p. 173.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, R. A., Glass, N. R. and Lefohn, A. S.: 1976,The Bioenvironmental Impact of a Coal Fired Power Plant, Second Interim Report, Clostrip, Montana, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, OR, p. 315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Logan, T. J. and Chaney, R. L.: 1983, ‘Utilization of Municipal Wastewater and Sludge on Land-Metals’, inProc. Conf. on Utilization of Municipal Waste Water and Sludge on Land, Univ. of California -Riverside, CA, p. 235.

    Google Scholar 

  • Low, K. S. and Lee, C. K.: 1981.Pertamika 4, 16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martin, A. C., Zim, H. S. and Nelson, A. L.: 1961,American Wildlife and Plants, Dover Publishers, Inc., New York, p. 500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mayes, R. A.: 1975, ‘The Role of Aquatic Macrophytes in the Distribution and Cycling of Cadmium and Lead in Aquatic Ecosystems’, Ph.D. Thesis, Purdue University, University Microfilms International, Ann Arbor, MI, p. 204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ornes, W. H. and Sutton, D. L.: 1975,J. Aquat. Plant Manage 13, 56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ornes, W. H. and Wildman, R. B.: 1979, ‘Effects of Cadmium (II) on Aquatic Vascular Plants’, in D. D. Hemphill (eds.),Trace Substances in Environmental Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, p. 304.

    Google Scholar 

  • Page, A. L. and Bingham, F. T.: 1973,Residue Rev. 48, 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sloey, W.E., Spangler, F. L. and Fetter, C. W., Jr.: 1978, ‘Management of Freshwater Wetlands for Nutrient Assimilation’, in R. E. Good, D. F. Whigham and R. L. Simpson (eds.),Freshwater Wetlands, Academic Press, New York, p. 321.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stanley, R. A.: 1974,Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 2, 331.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sutton, D. L. and Ornes, W. H.: 1977,Aquat. Bot. 3, 231.

    Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: 1978,Health Assessment Document for Cadmium, Office of Research and Development, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolverton, B. C. and McDonald, R. C.: 1978,Water Hyacinth Sorption Rates of Lead, Mercury and Cadmium, N.A.S.A. ERL Report. No. 170.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology and Life Sciences, Savannah State College, 31404, Savannah, Ga, USA

    Kenneth S. Sajwan

  2. Department of Biology, University of South Carolina at Aiken, 29801, SC, USA

    W. Harold Ornes

Authors
  1. Kenneth S. Sajwan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. Harold Ornes
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sajwan, K.S., Ornes, W.H. Cadmium accumulation in eurasian watermilfoil plants. Water Air Soil Pollut 87, 47–56 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696828

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00696828

Keywords

Search

Navigation