World Journal of Fish and Marine Sciences 2 (5): 450-454, 2010 ISSN 2078-4589 © IDOSI Publications, 2010 Corresponding Author: J.I. Nirmal Kumar, P.G. Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidya Nagar, Gujarat- 388120, India. E-mail: istares2005@yahoo.com 450 An Assessment of the Accumulation Potential of Lead(pb), Zinc(zn) and Cadmium(cd) by Avicennia Marina (Forssk.) Vierh. In Vamleshwar Mangroves near Narmada Estuary, West Coast of Gujarat, India J.I. Nirmal Kumar, P.R. Sajish, Rita N. Kumar, Basil George and Shailendra Viyol 1 1 2 1 1 P.G. Department of Environmental Science and Technology, Institute of Science and Technology for 1 Advanced Studies and Research (ISTAR), Vallabh Vidya Nagar, Gujarat- 388120, India Department of Biological Science and Environmental Science, N.V. Patel College of Pure and Applied 2 Science, Vallabh Vidya Nagar, Gujarat- 388 120, India Abstract: The study deals with the accumulation of Pb, Zn and Cd in an important mangrove species, Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. in Vamleshwar mangrove ecosystem, near Narmada estuary, West coast of Gujarat, India at a height differences of 0.5, 1.5, 2.5 mtrs and carried out under field conditions during October 2009. The site was located on 21°30´11.55´ N latitude and 72°43´53.68´ E longitude. Mangrove receives heavy metal pollution from upstream areas of Narmada estuary and highly populated settlements. However, little is known about the capacity of mangrove plants to take up and store heavy metals. Water, sediment and plant parts such as roots, stems and leaves were analyzed for finding the trace metal accumulation of different height groups by Inductive Coupled Plasma Analyser (ICPA). The amounts of metals found in the water, sediment and plant parts were in the order of Pb>Zn>Cd. The average concentrations of heavy metals in the water were 57.83 mg LG for Pb, 3.89 1 mg L for Zn and 0.42 mg LG for Cd. It was observed that the average concentrations of Pb (73.6 mg LG), Zn -1 1 1 (8.1 mg LG) and Cd (0.73 mg LG) in the sediments were below the critical soil concentrations. The 1 1 concentrations of heavy metals in different parts of Avicennia marina were in the order Roots>stem>leaf except for Cd, but Cd found higher in leaf. The ranges of heavy metals in plants were 18.5-102.2 mg LG for Pb, 3.5-19.5 1 mg LG for Zn and 0.2-4.1 mg LG for Cd. The concentrations of all heavy metals in Avicennia marina except 1 1 Pb were falling within normal range and were much more in the plants having highest height. This study has therefore shown the potential of Avicennia marina as a phytoremediation species for selected heavy metals in many mangrove ecosystems. Key words: Heavy metal accumulation %Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh %Mangrove plant parts %Sediments %Vamleshwar mangrove ecosystem INTRODUCTION residual accumulation in the soil, resulting in over- Mangrove ecosystems are highly productive and These plant products are harmful to the health of humans play a vital role as a major primary producer within [4]. estuarine systems. The uniqueness of A. marina root The uptake Pb, Zn and Cd is passive and its systems serve as habitat and nursery area for many translocation from roots to other plant organs is generally juvenile fish and crustaceans, which have both direct and low [5-7]. Many studies have been carried out on various indirect socio-economic significance and are of great plants to determine its heavy metal accumulation importance to many scientific studies. They also provide capability in different aquatic and forest environments erosion mitigation and stabilization for adjacent coastal and vegetable crops [8-12]. There are several studies on landforms [1]. In a plant-soil system, strong absorption heavy metal contaminations in mangrove sediments and and fixation of heavy metals by soil can easily cause their effects on organisms but little is known about heavy absorption of heavy metals by growing plants [2, 3].