Determination of mercury accumulation of Pistia stratiotes lam in lower Agusan River, Butuan City, Philippines
Paper Details
Determination of mercury accumulation of Pistia stratiotes lam in lower Agusan River, Butuan City, Philippines
Abstract
The result of the study was a big help as an additional data or information regarding the alarming contamination of toxic waste in lower Agusan River and in Butuan Bay. It focuses on the determination of the level of mercury absorption of P. stratiotes and in the soil in the three sites along the lower portion of the Agusan River. Samples of soils and P. stratiotes plant commonly known as “water cabbage” were collected in different sites in Lower Agusan River, Mindanao Philippines for mercury determination. They were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results revealed an average mercury concentration in plant samples (0.23 mg/kg) in Site 1, followed by Site 3 (0.18mg/kg) while site 2 had the lowest mercury contamination with (0.08mg/kg) while soil samples obtained a higher concentration in all sites. These results revealed that all sites were contaminated with mercury that surpasses the standard values recommended by World Health Organization. The impact of mercury pollution in Agusan River had affected already not only from the sources of contamination but extends all the way down to Butuan Bay where the river drains.
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