Ability of Cyperus papyrus in the bioaccumulation of some heavy elements in the Shatt Al-Basrah canal, Iraq

The current study aimed to estimate the efficiency of Cyperus papyrus for the accumulation of some heavy elements in Shatt al-Basrah Canal - southern Iraq. Six elements (Co, Mn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Fe) were used during a seasonally period that extended from the autumn 2018 to the summer 2019. These elements were studied in the dissolved and particulate phase of water. In addition, the same elements were studied in the exchangeable and residual phase of the precipitate and in the tissues of C. papyrus. The current study also showed the mechanism of accumulation of heavy elements through water-sediments-aquatic plants. C. papyrus, which was well developed in the Shatt Al Basrah, was used. The system of abundance of elements in water in the dissolved phase was as follows: Ni < Pb < Cd < Cu < Mn < Fe. As for the exchangeable phase of the sediment, it was as follows: Ni < Pb < Cd < Mn < Cu < Fe. The abundance of elements in C. papyrus was as follows: Ni < Pb < Cd < Mn < Cu < Fe. The study concluded that the accumulation of the studied elements follows the ascending system (water - sediment - aquatic plant). The bioaccumulation factor of the studied elements in the tissues of C. papyrus was as follows: 3.62, 11.27, 8.47, 10.37, 12.58, 11.08 once as much as their concentrations in water, respectively.