Water Hyacinth:A Unique Agent of Bioremediation

Abstract

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is profoundly found in the water bodies of tropical countries. It is a menace as it chokes the water body, drainage system and kills the fishes because of oxygen depletion. The adverse impact of water hyacinth has been stated in several literatures. Apart from destroying the aesthetic value of the aquatic ecosystem, water hyacinth cluster serves as the breeding ground of several disease causing insects and pests. The species is also invasive in nature and out-compete all other aquatic species growing in its vicinity and thus decreases the biodiversity of the aquatic ecosystem. Considering this disadvantage spectrum of water hyacinth, the present research programme is a turning force to rotate the significance of water hyacinth from its disadvantage to an advantageous sector. It can be used as an agent of bioremediation because of its potential to absorb heavy metals in its body tissue. The present programme is an attempt to monitor Zn, Cu and Pb in the body tissues of water hyacinth collected from East Kolkata Wetland during November, 2014. The analysis was carried out through Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) after acid digestion. The order of metal accumulation is Zn > Cu > Pb.