Potential of indigenous plant species for phytoremediation of arsenic contaminated water and soil

The presence of arsenic (As) and heavy metals in soil and water resources has serious impact on ecosystem as well as human health. In India, West Bengal (W.B.) is severely contaminated by higher levels of As in water, soil and growing plants/crops. The present study was designed to examine the remediation ability of indigenous plant species, growing naturally in the As contaminated Dakshin Panchpota village of Nadia district (W.B.). Soil and water samples, collected from the site, showed higher levels of arsenic and heavy metals. For the study, total twenty eight plants (eighteen terrestrial, ten aquatic) were collected from the contaminated area and among them ten terrestrial and seven aquatic plants showed bioaccumulation factor (BCF) > 1, suggesting their role in As remediation and site restoration. Althernanthera ficoides demonstrated highest accumulation as well as translocation of As (TF > 1) among all the terrestrial plants tested, showing its suitability for remediation of As contaminated soil. More As was recorded in shoots than the roots in Phyllanthus amarus and Cyanodon dactylon, showing their feasibility for phytoextraction purpose. Among aquatic plants, Eicchornia crassipes and Marsilea quadrifolia were found most effective for As remediation. Besides As, plants have also shown potential to tolerate and accumulate Fe, Zn, Cu and Cr in their tissues. Thus, the results of this study showed that the naturally growing plant species have potential to remediate As contaminated site in the presence of elevated concentrations of heavy metals and can play an important role in ecological restoration, however, care should be taken owing to medicinal properties possessed by some of the accumulators.