Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the levels of zinc, chromium and lead in the Mvudi River, located in Thohoyandou in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. Enlighten with the recent developments of plant species as remediates, plants were sampled for this study to assess their phytoremediation efficiency. The surface water and plant samples were collected before, within and after a wetland near a cement brick making factory. The samples were analyzed to determine the concentration of zinc, lead and chromium. The results showed that zinc was the most concentrated metal in plants and water reaching a concentration levels of up to 4.52 mg kg⁻¹ in the leaves of Bidens pilosa and 0.77 mg L⁻¹ within the wetland. Chromium and lead were easily absorbed by the roots of the plants as showed by the significant decrease in concentration while moving into the wetland. The highest concentrations of chromium in plants was 0.41 mg kg⁻¹ in Xanthium strumarium (stem). The amounts of zinc, chromium and lead in plants samples were found to be higher as compared to that of water samples and this shows that plants were absorbing large amounts of metals.

Novelty Statement: Several studies that have been conducted in Mvudi River focused primarily on analyzing heavy metals in water. The aim of the present study was to assess the effectiveness of selected wetland plants as remediates of heavy metals contaminating Mvudi River in Thohoyandou, South Africa. This was done by measuring the concentration of heavy metals of selected plants before, within and after the wetland area. If high level of heavy metals in the Mvudi River are not remediated, this will affect the quality of potable water and pose serious health effect to the people. This investigation exhibited an important role the wetland plants play of accumulating heavy metals in contaminated water.

摘要

本研究旨在评估位于南非林波波省 Thohoyandou 的 Mvudi 河中锌、铬和铅的含量。随着植物物种作为修复剂的最新发展，本研究对植物进行了采样，以评估其植物修复效率。在水泥制砖厂附近的湿地之前、之内和之后收集地表水和植物样本。分析样品以确定锌、铅和铬的浓度。结果表明，锌是植物和水中浓度最高的金属，在Bidens pilosa的叶子中达到 4.52 mg kg ^-1和 0.77 mg L ^-1湿地内。铬和铅很容易被植物的根部吸收，这表现为移入湿地时浓度显着降低。植物中铬的最高浓度为 0.41 mg kg ^-1在Xanthium strumarium（茎）中。发现植物样品中锌、铬和铅的含量高于水样，这表明植物吸收了大量金属。

新颖性声明：在 Mvudi 河进行的几项研究主要集中在分析水中的重金属。本研究的目的是评估选定的湿地植物作为重金属污染南非 Thohoyandou 的 Mvudi 河的补救措施的有效性。这是通过测量湿地区域之前、之内和之后选定植物的重金属浓度来完成的。姆武迪河中高浓度的重金属如不进行治理，将影响饮用水质量，对人民健康造成严重影响。这项调查显示了湿地植物在污染水中积累重金属的重要作用。