Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Different Water Bodies by Biological Source Algae Prakash Jyoti*, Awasthi Garima** Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Lucknow (U.P.) India-226 010 *Email: jyotiprakash1@gmail.com
**E-mail: garima.baj@gmail.com
Online published on 23 May, 2013. Abstract Heavy metals contamination in the environment is a major global concern, Heavy metals are released into the environment from a wide range of natural and anthropogenic sources. This problem provoked the emergence of phytoremediation technologies for cleaning aquatic environment. Algae act as biological filters, bio-indicators by accumulating heavy metals like Hg, CO, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti and Zn from the surrounding environments. This study aimed the importance of algae in accumulation of heavy metals, involved mechanism and suggested remedial measures for the preservation and restoration of the aquatic ecosystem including both fresh and marine ecosystem. The different algal species have the ability to accumulate specific heavy metals in huge amount. The algae maintain an equilibrated relation with heavy metal ions which are present in the surrounding. Algae, fungi and some eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms, produce peptides which are capable to bind heavy metals. This technology is gaining huge public acceptance due to the microbial activity and its insitu applicability which results in non-toxic end products. Top Keywords Phytoremediation, biological filters, metallothioneins, eutrophication. Top |