Heavy metal concentrations in two mangrove species grown in the UAE region and use of phytoremediation technology

Abstract

The mangrove vegetation of Eastern region of UAE, rhizosphere root, leaf, stem and soil sediments of two mangrove types studied for the levels of Cr, Cu, Cd, Mn, Ni, Zn and Pb in the eastern Emirates region. The analysis was carried out with FAAS spectroscopy using microwave digestion technique. The two mangrove plants are most abundant in this region. the bioconcentration factor (BCF) > 1 metal content was quantized. It noted that the roots contain, significantly high levels of metal concentrations, in which the Cr and Ni are higher leaves, Cu, Cd, Z, and Pb higher in roots, whereas Mn is higher in the stem of mangrove trees. The levels are slightly higher due to the oil spills and hydrocarbon industry waste. There is a significant increase in mangrove forest vegetation since last decades in the six regions of UAE, Due to this forest the country benefited many ways such as tourism, stops the coastal erosion and floods, it helps in cleaning heavy metals, any pollution may cause due to oil, industry, hydrocarbons, and drains. These give habitat to many marine species, capture the carbon present in the atmosphere and fight against the rise of temperature in the environments using Phytoremediation, and maintain a healthy environment for the marine ecosystem.

Keywords: mangroves, heavy metals, phytoremediation, environment.