Bioaccumulation of cadmium by seagrass (Halodule pinifolia) from artificially-contaminated sediment

Abstract

Cd is non-essential metal to aquatic plants and is found naturally in aquatic the environment. Bioaccumulation of Cd in seagrass was determined in laboratory experiments. Seagrass species Halodule pinifolia was cultured utilizing artificially contaminated sediment. In this experiment, clean sediment was spiked with Cd solution in order to prepare artificially contaminated sediment. Five sediment Cd concentrations were prepared including control. Concentrations of Cd in leaves and root-rhizomes were measured after exposure of the plant to contaminated sediment for 8 week. Cd concentrations in sediment and pore water were also measured. Results from this experiment showed that the concentration of Cd in leaves and rootrhizomes increased as the level of Cd concentration in sediment and pore water increased.