Scientific Research and Essays

  • Abbreviation: Sci. Res. Essays
  • Language: English
  • ISSN: 1992-2248
  • DOI: 10.5897/SRE
  • Start Year: 2006
  • Published Articles: 2768

Review

Chemical, biological and physiological indicators of metal pollution in wetlands

  O. O. Ayeni1, P. A. Ndakidemi2*, R. G. Snyman3 and J. P. Odendaal1
  1Department of Environmental and Occupational Studies, Faculty of Applied Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town Campus, Keizersgracht, P. O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa. 2Department of Horticultural Sciences, Faculty of Applied Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town Campus, Keizersgracht, P. O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa. 3Department of Biodiversity and Conservation, Faculty of Applied Science, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town Campus, Keizersgracht, P. O. Box 652, Cape Town 8000, South Africa.  
Email: [email protected]

  •  Accepted: 10 May 2010
  •  Published: 04 August 2010

Abstract

 

Chemical, biological and physiological responses in terrestrial and aquatic plants may be used as biomarkers to monitor contamination in ecosystems. Some plant parameters such as chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, transpiration, metal uptake and metabolism may be used to determine the level of toxic stress in plants. Similarly, the concentrations of metals in soil may be used to establish the levels of pollution. In this review, we present challenge to researchers involved in environmental assessment to use these simple techniques as a basis for establishing guidelines on environmental pollution.

 

Key words: Bioaccumulation, biomarkers, environment, metals.

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This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0

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