The Role of Macrophytes in Monitoring the Impact of Heavy Metal Effluents on the Aquatic Environment

Slobodanka P. Pajević1, Žarko S. Kevrešan2, Snežana B. Radulović1, Dragan V. Radnović1, Mirjana S. Vučković, and Milan N. Matavulj1

1 Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro
2 Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro

Corresponding author: Dr. Slobodanka Pajević
    Department of Biology and Ecology
    University of Novi Sad
    Trg Dositeja Obradovica 2
    21000 Novi Sad, Serbia and Montenegro
    Fax number: Fax: +381 21 450620
    E-mail: pajevics@ib.ns.ac.yu

CEJOEM 2003, Vol.9. No.4.: 317–321

Key words:
Aquatic macrophytes, accumulation of heavy metals, chemical contamination, bioindication

Abstract:
The aim of the present survey was to identify the dominant bioaccumulators of nutrients and heavy metals in the water of the Danube-Tisza-Danube (DTD) canal and its littoral zone. This task was achieved by the analysis of chemical composition of the prevalent aquatic plants and assessing thereby the possible chemical contamination of the water. The survey was focused on the reach Novi Sad-Bezdan, a section of the canal that was exposed to waste discharge from nearby factories and effluents of surrounding arable land. Analysis of plant tissue samples was done by standard methods using atomic absorption spectrophotometry and neutron activation analysis. Significant differences in the concentrations among the various plant species and surveyed sites were found. The highest accumulation of nutrients and heavy metals, especially of Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu were obtained in submersed Ceratophyllum demersum and rhizome of Phragmites communis. The highest concentration of all of the analysed heavy metals was recorded in the tissue of C. demersum sampled at the sites Prigrevica, Vrbas, Turija, and Novi Sad. Our investigations may contribute to the protection of areas undergoing strong impact due to human activities.

Received: 31 July 2003
Accepted: 12 January 2004
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