Question

Eicchornia (water hyacinth) is sensitive to which kind of pollution?

• A. FaecaI matter
• B. DDT
• C. Fertilizers
• D. Pb and Cd

Answer 1

The correct option is D Pb and Cd

Pollution is the adulteration of the environmental resources which adversely affect the environment. It is a major threat imposed by the human activities. These contaminants passes on to other trophic level and creates a major disturbance. Toxic heavy metals like zinc, copper, chromium, lead and cadmium present in the sewage are mostly absorbed and get accumulated in various plant parts as free metals, these free metals gets transferred in the food chain and finally reach man who is at the top of all the food chains. The toxic metals may adversely affect the normal growth and metabolism. Water hyacinth has been successfully applied not only in removing organics and metals but also act as a bioindicator for assessment of metal pollution. It is seen that water hyacinth has a tremendous capacity of absorbing metals like copper, cadmium, zinc, iron, mercury, arsenic and lead.