140
A. A. Ansari and F. A. Khan
sources is depleting the water resources at a faster pace. The
eutrophication is a kind of nutrient enrichment process of
any aquatic body which results into an excessive growth
of phytoplankton (Ansari and Khan 2006a). The phosphate
rocks and mineral sedimentation are the natural sources of
phosphorus into the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The
household detergents containing phosphates and phosphorus
fertilizers used in the agricultural practices are the major anthropogenic sources of phosphorus (Ansari 2005).
Eutrophication is one of the serious kinds of water pollution directly affecting the fauna owing to the loss of dissolved oxygen level. It leads to an early and relatively faster
mortality rate of fishes and thus spoils the desired water
qualities of ponds or lakes. The fishing operation and navigation becomes difficult owing to enmeshed and heavy growth
of plants. The hydroelectric generation from such water storages is adversely affected as nutrient-rich water (of such reservoirs) acts chemically upon the turbines (Khan and Ansari
2005). At the end of algal bloom, the decomposing debris
also spoils the desired water characteristics and may bring
in the growth of disease-causing bacteria. An uncontrolled
eutrophication leads to a rapid upwelling of a water body
(Ansari and Khan 2009a, b). The limited storage and water
recharging capacity of smaller freshwater bodies reduces
by silting. Small lakes and many ponds steadily lose their
aquatic entity and become permanently terrestrial in nature
(Ansari et al. 2011a, b).
The common household detergents are the major anthropogenic source of phosphorus input into the nearby water
bodies and sewage treatment plants. The detergents normally consist of two basic components the surfactants and the
builders. The surfactants also called surface-active agents
are the main cleaning agents. We can find various brands
of detergents in the markets containing 10–30 % surfactants
(Rao 1998; Khitoliya 2004). The remaining parts of detergents are the builders as polyphosphate salts. About 1 ppm of
surfactant produces a huge amount of foam in water bodies.
This concentration is non-toxic to human being but gives an
off-taste to drinking water and exerts a significant impact on
ecosystem. Just 0.1 ppm of surfactant can reduce the rate of
oxygen absorption in water to about half (Rao 1998).
Chemically the surfactants are linear alkyl sulphonate. At
present, the release of polyphosphate builders into natural
water is great environmental problem than the surfactants.
It causes eutrophication of the water bodies in which it is
released. Nitrilotriacetate was considered to be a replacement of polyphosphate builder but it proved to be hazardous
to human health. The best alternative is to minimize the use
of phosphates in detergents (Rao1998).
The members of the duckweeds family Lemnaceae are
small free-floating plants which propagate rapidly. They are
very sensitive to many factors of surrounding environment
(Lau and Lane 2002a, b). Their potentials to use as indicators of water quality have been studied by several workers
(Ansari and Khan 2011c; Srivastava and Jaiswal 1989).
Duckweeds are appropriate material for the investigation of
metal accumulation and its toxicity. The duckweeds change
their morphology growth rate in response to even a very
small amount of water pollutant (Ansari and Khan 2008;
Jaiswal and Srivastava 1987). On certain criteria Thornton
et al. (1986) considered Lemna minor as ecologically sensitive species. The growth of Spirodela polyrrhiza was found
directly related with the type and nature of the water (Ansari
and Khan 2002). Duckweed species are promising macrophytes for the use in sustainable wastewater treatment owing
to their rapid growth, ease of harvest and feed potential as
a protein source. The duckweeds showed a high growth
rate and productivity in well-managed system (Ansari and
Khan 2009b, 2011d; Edwards 1985, 1992). The duckweeds
have been found responsible for three-quarters of the total
nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss in very shallow aquatic systems (Korner et al. 2003) and thus have potentials of
phytoremediation. The duckweed growth shows a direct response to the chemical composition of water (Landolt 1986).
Wastewater concentrations and seasonal climate conditions
had direct impacts on duckweed growth and nutrient uptake
by these plants (Cheng et al. 2002).
In the present work experiments were designed to study
the extent of eutrophication caused by 36 selected household
detergents in the fresh water ecosystem. The growth behavior of the selected duckweeds namely Lemna minor (L.) and
Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) of family Lemnaceae was studied as a measure of eutrophication caused by detergents. In
the present work, growth behavior of both the free-floating
duckweeds have been studied with special reference to “Surf
Excel” detergent powder commonly used in India.
12.2 Materials and Methods
12.2.1 Selection and Collection of Plant
Material
The two common duckweeds namely Lemna minor (L.)
and Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Shield of family Lemnaceae
were selected for the experiments. The individuals of both
the species were collected with the help of tea strainer from
the fresh water bodies of civil line area of Aligarh. Both the
selected duckweeds were brought to the laboratory in separate polyvinyl containers with adequate quantity of water.
The collected duckweeds were washed 3–4 times with tap
water.
A. A. Ansari and F. A. Khan
sources is depleting the water resources at a faster pace. The
eutrophication is a kind of nutrient enrichment process of
any aquatic body which results into an excessive growth
of phytoplankton (Ansari and Khan 2006a). The phosphate
rocks and mineral sedimentation are the natural sources of
phosphorus into the terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The
household detergents containing phosphates and phosphorus
fertilizers used in the agricultural practices are the major anthropogenic sources of phosphorus (Ansari 2005).
Eutrophication is one of the serious kinds of water pollution directly affecting the fauna owing to the loss of dissolved oxygen level. It leads to an early and relatively faster
mortality rate of fishes and thus spoils the desired water
qualities of ponds or lakes. The fishing operation and navigation becomes difficult owing to enmeshed and heavy growth
of plants. The hydroelectric generation from such water storages is adversely affected as nutrient-rich water (of such reservoirs) acts chemically upon the turbines (Khan and Ansari
2005). At the end of algal bloom, the decomposing debris
also spoils the desired water characteristics and may bring
in the growth of disease-causing bacteria. An uncontrolled
eutrophication leads to a rapid upwelling of a water body
(Ansari and Khan 2009a, b). The limited storage and water
recharging capacity of smaller freshwater bodies reduces
by silting. Small lakes and many ponds steadily lose their
aquatic entity and become permanently terrestrial in nature
(Ansari et al. 2011a, b).
The common household detergents are the major anthropogenic source of phosphorus input into the nearby water
bodies and sewage treatment plants. The detergents normally consist of two basic components the surfactants and the
builders. The surfactants also called surface-active agents
are the main cleaning agents. We can find various brands
of detergents in the markets containing 10–30 % surfactants
(Rao 1998; Khitoliya 2004). The remaining parts of detergents are the builders as polyphosphate salts. About 1 ppm of
surfactant produces a huge amount of foam in water bodies.
This concentration is non-toxic to human being but gives an
off-taste to drinking water and exerts a significant impact on
ecosystem. Just 0.1 ppm of surfactant can reduce the rate of
oxygen absorption in water to about half (Rao 1998).
Chemically the surfactants are linear alkyl sulphonate. At
present, the release of polyphosphate builders into natural
water is great environmental problem than the surfactants.
It causes eutrophication of the water bodies in which it is
released. Nitrilotriacetate was considered to be a replacement of polyphosphate builder but it proved to be hazardous
to human health. The best alternative is to minimize the use
of phosphates in detergents (Rao1998).
The members of the duckweeds family Lemnaceae are
small free-floating plants which propagate rapidly. They are
very sensitive to many factors of surrounding environment
(Lau and Lane 2002a, b). Their potentials to use as indicators of water quality have been studied by several workers
(Ansari and Khan 2011c; Srivastava and Jaiswal 1989).
Duckweeds are appropriate material for the investigation of
metal accumulation and its toxicity. The duckweeds change
their morphology growth rate in response to even a very
small amount of water pollutant (Ansari and Khan 2008;
Jaiswal and Srivastava 1987). On certain criteria Thornton
et al. (1986) considered Lemna minor as ecologically sensitive species. The growth of Spirodela polyrrhiza was found
directly related with the type and nature of the water (Ansari
and Khan 2002). Duckweed species are promising macrophytes for the use in sustainable wastewater treatment owing
to their rapid growth, ease of harvest and feed potential as
a protein source. The duckweeds showed a high growth
rate and productivity in well-managed system (Ansari and
Khan 2009b, 2011d; Edwards 1985, 1992). The duckweeds
have been found responsible for three-quarters of the total
nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loss in very shallow aquatic systems (Korner et al. 2003) and thus have potentials of
phytoremediation. The duckweed growth shows a direct response to the chemical composition of water (Landolt 1986).
Wastewater concentrations and seasonal climate conditions
had direct impacts on duckweed growth and nutrient uptake
by these plants (Cheng et al. 2002).
In the present work experiments were designed to study
the extent of eutrophication caused by 36 selected household
detergents in the fresh water ecosystem. The growth behavior of the selected duckweeds namely Lemna minor (L.) and
Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) of family Lemnaceae was studied as a measure of eutrophication caused by detergents. In
the present work, growth behavior of both the free-floating
duckweeds have been studied with special reference to “Surf
Excel” detergent powder commonly used in India.
12.2 Materials and Methods
12.2.1 Selection and Collection of Plant
Material
The two common duckweeds namely Lemna minor (L.)
and Spirodela polyrrhiza (L.) Shield of family Lemnaceae
were selected for the experiments. The individuals of both
the species were collected with the help of tea strainer from
the fresh water bodies of civil line area of Aligarh. Both the
selected duckweeds were brought to the laboratory in separate polyvinyl containers with adequate quantity of water.
The collected duckweeds were washed 3–4 times with tap
water.