ISSN: 2577-4360
Authors: Agbara S, Jato JA* and Ogo AO
Industrialization is on the increase and so is global warming, the adverse effect of man’s quest for a stress free life. The pollutants associated with industrialization are numerous including heavy metals (HM). Worrisome is the alarming increase and non-biodegradability of HM in the environment. Other methods of decontamination are relatively cost intensive, tasking and require technical knowledge. The need to reclaim the environment calls for a green approach. Laportea aestuans and Sclerocarpus africana prove promising as phytoremediators. This study employed Laportea aestuans and Sclerocarpus africana as test decontaminants of HM at a mechanic workshop (site 1) comparative to a physically non-contaminated site (site 2-control). Findings show high level of HM in site 1 and that the plants especially Sclerocarpus Africana is good for remediation of HM contaminated sites in Benue state. The test plants accumulated more HM in leaves and roots suggesting they use Phytoextraction, phytostabilization and phytovolatilization as mechanisms of remediation. Using the classification scale of phytoaccumlators, both Laportea aestuans and Sclerocarpus africana are considered Hyperaccumulators. The plants and HM generally presented an order of concentration and bioaccumulation as: Sclerocarpus africana > Laportea aestuans and Zn > Fe > Pb > Cu > Cd > Cr > Ni was the highest concentrating metals. Though promising, further studies involving isotopic labeling to determine mechanism of remediation is necessary.
Keywords: Bioaccumulation; Phytoremediation; Heavy metals; Contamination
