Heavy metals in three lakes in West Poland

Concentrations of heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Co, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Hg, Fe) as well as macronutrients (P, Ca, Mg) were measured in water, bottom sediments , and plants of three lakes in West Poland (southwest of Poznan). The plant s collected were Nymphaea alba, Nuphar luteum, Ceratophyllum demersum, Phra gmites communis, Typha latifolia, and Schoenoplectus lacustris. These plant s contained elevated levels of Co, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Hg. Analyses of wate r and bottom sediments indicated that the lakes were polluted with Zn, Cd, Cu, and Pb and partly with Ni and Hg. Strong positive correlations were fou nd between concentrations of Cd in water and in plants, between concentrati ons of Cd in bottom sediments and in plants, between concentrations of Cr i n water and in plants, between concentrations of Cr in bottom sediments and in plants, and between concentrations of Fe in water and in plants, indica ting the potential of plants for pollution monitoring for these metals. A n egative correlation was found between biomass production and Pb and Mn cont ent in water and Pb and Mn content in bottom sediments. Cr and Cd accumulat ed in plants at a higher rate from bottom sediments than from water. The ac cumulation rate of Fe in plant tissues was higher with an increase in Pe in water than with an increase in Fe in bottom sediments. (C) 1999 Academic P ress.