Water Hyacinths (Eichhornia crassipes) as Indicators of Heavy Metal Impact of a Large Landfill on the Almendares River near Havana, Cuba

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  2. Professor Susana Olivares Rieumont
  3. Professor David Graham
Author(s)Olivares Rieumont S, Lima L, de la Rosa D, Graham DW, Columbie I, Santana JL, Sánchez MJ
Publication type Article
JournalBulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Year2007
Volume79
Issue6
Pages583-587
ISSN (print)0007-4861
ISSN (electronic)1432-0800
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The Almendares River is central to recreational and other activities in Havana, Cuba. However, monitoring indicated significant heavy metal contamination in river sediments, especially below Calle 100, the largest landfill in Havana. This work extended previous sediment studies by determining complementary Cu, Pb, Ni, Cr, Cd, and Zn levels in indigenous water hyacinths (Eichhornia Crassipes; EC) above and below the landfill. Pb, Cu, and Zn were significantly elevated in EC roots below the landfill and also correlated with sediment data (p<0.05), implying elevated levels likely result from landfill activity and might be useful biomonitors as river remediation proceeds.
PublisherSpringer New York
URLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00128-007-9305-5
DOI10.1007/s00128-007-9305-5
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