Journal of Environmental Biology

Remediation of nitrite contamination in ground and

surface waters using aquatic macrophytes

Author Details

S.K. Rawat

Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University,

Lucknow - 226 025, India

R.K. Singh

Division of Toxicology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow - 226 001, India

Rana P. Singh

(Corresponding author)

Department of Environmental Science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University,

Lucknow - 226 025, India

e-mail: ranapsingh1@hotmail.com

Publication Data

Paper received:

25 June 2010

Revised received:

16 February 2011

Accepted:

26 February 2011

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the seasonal variation of nitrite levels in drinking and surface waters of urban, peri-urban and rural areas of Lucknow, during 2007-2008, and to evaluate the nitrite removal and accumulation potential of certain native aquatic macrophytes. Most of the drinking and surface water samples were collected from urbanized region of the city. All drinking water samples detected, showed higher nitrite level in winter, when compared with that in summer and rainy seasons. However, in drinking water samples nitrite level was below the permissible limit i.e. 3.29 mg l^-1 NO₂. The surface water showed more than 3 fold higher levels of nitrite over the permissible level i.e. 0.06 mg l^-1, and the level was higher during rainy season than in summer and winter seasons. Eight macrophytes viz. Peltandra virginica, Utricularia vulgaris, Eichhornia crassipes, Trapa natans, Mimulus glabratus, Marsilea quadrifolia, Pistia stratiotes and Polygonum persicaria were studied for phytoremediation potential of nitrite from the water under simulated laboratory conditions. The gradual diminution in the level of nitrite in the water and simultaneously it’s increase in the plant tissues was recorded at 5^th, 10^th and 15^th d after plant culture. All the plants selected, removed nitrite from water but Polygonum persicaria, Mimulus glabratus, Trapa natans and Pistia stratiotes were found more efficient and removed nitrite upto 60.91, 58.09, 60.97 and 72.28%, respectively. Observations revealed that Pistia stratiotes can be used for the effective removal of nitrite from the contaminated water.

Key words

Drinking water, Nitrite level, Pistia stratiotes, Surface water, Aquatic macrophytes

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