Macrophyte importance in contaminant treatment and biomonitoring

HADAD, H.R.; MAINE, M. A.; MUFARREGE, M.M; DI LUCA, G. A; SANCHEZ, G. C; NOCETTI, E

Removal of Emerging Contaminants through Microbial Processes

SPRINGER

Año: 2021; p. 435 - 452

Constructed wetlands are systems based on nature, in which macrophytes are the main biological community. According to the diversity of wastewaters that these systems can treat, its use has expanded all over the world. Treatment wetlands are successfully used in the removal of emerging contaminants. However, the knowledge of the removal mechanisms is still scarce. The use of macrophytes as biomonitors should be considered as a useful tool for the management of aquatic systems contaminated by different sources. In macrophyte ecotoxicological studies, not only the measurement of antioxidant enzymes but also other basic biological parameters, such as changes in different biomass compartments and the internal morphology, should be considered. This chapter discusses the importance of macrophytes in wetlands constructed for the treatment of different effluents, their use as biomonitors in natural wetlands that receive urban pollutants, and some ecotoxicological aspects applied to phytoremediation.