Heavy metals in macrophytes (from the Americas)

MAGDALENA MONFERRAN; IARA DA C. SOUZA; HIULANA P. ARRIVABENE; MARÍA VALERIA AMÉ

¨The Ecotoxicology of Aquatic Macrophytes¨

Springer

Año: 2023; p. 53 - 73

Pollution from metals and metalloids is a major concern due to the persistence of these elements in the environment and the impacts on ecological and humanhealth. Evaluation of the distribution, bioaccumulation and toxicity of metal(loid)sin aquatic organisms has been studied for many years. In consequence, researchon plants with a high tolerance to metals, and therefore, of use as bioindicators oftheses contaminants, has become a subject of interest in recent years. This chapterpresents a brief analysis of the bioaccumulation patterns and physiological responsesof aquatic plants to pollution from metals and metalloids, with a focus on describingwhat we have learned from our studies conducted in the laboratory and in the fieldwith the emergent macrophyte, Potamogeton pusillus and with the mangrove species,Avicennia schaueriana, Laguncularia racemosa and Rhizophora mangle, all of whichare native to South America. Furthermore, the capacity of P. pusillus to be used foractive and passive biomonitoring in aquatic ecosystems highly impacted by environmental degradation is discussed. In addition, there is a discussion of the bioaccumulation and translocation of metals from interstitial water and sediment to the roots andleaves of mangroves inhabiting estuaries in Brazil with different levels of pollution,correlating metal bioaccumulation with differences in macrophyte anatomy. Finally,the use of stable isotopes in mangroves as biomarkers of environmental pollution isdemonstrated.