153
12 Household Detergents Causing Eutrophication in Freshwater Ecosystems
were significantly high and the quantity consistently increased with the concentration of Surf Excel. The phosphate
accumulation of water was statistically found directly related
with temperature. With one exception there was no statistical difference in potassium accumulation in all treatments
including control. Similarly temperature also did not affect
the potassium content of the solution. It was noticeable that
the Lemna minor had high mortality in higher concentration
and temperature levels (Table 12.14).
12.3.5.3 Sensitivity of Spirodela polyrrhiza
The data summarized in Table 12.15 show the growth response of Spirodela polyrrhiza treated in small pots with
varying concentration of Surf Excel at varying temperatures.
The dry weight accumulation significantly decreased in
Spirodela polyrrhiza maintained at 40 and 50 °C in all treatments levels. The dry weight accumulation of Spirodela polyrrhiza was, however, statistically similar in all concentrations maintained at 10, 20, and 30 °C. Significant reductions
in dry weight and chlorophyll content were noted in all treatments maintained at 40 and 50 °C temperature (as recorded
in the samples collected either on 5th day, 9th day or after
the termination of the experiment at 11th day). Nitrogen uptake was optimum in 40 ppm concentration at 20 and 30 °C.
Significantly a higher amount of phosphorous uptake was
recorded at 20 and 30 °C temperatures in all doses of Surf
Excel. The uptake of phosphorous was also relatively higher
in all concentrations of Surf Excel at 10 °C but the uptake of
phosphorous did not show any significant decrease at 40 °C
of temperature. The potassium uptake in lower doses showed
some increase up to 40 °C temperature and in higher doses
only up to 20 °C of temperature (Table 12.15).
12.3.5.4 Water Quality
The data summarized in Table 12.16 show the physico–
chemical properties of the detergent solution as studied after
the growth of Spirodela polyrrhiza at varying temperature
levels. The turbidity was recorded to be significantly high
in 20 ppm and higher detergent concentrations at almost all
temperature levels as compared to their corresponding control. The pH of the solutions showed a consistent increase
with the concentration level. The pH of the 40 and 50 ppm
of the detergent solution was noted to be highest at 40 and
50 °C temperatures. The dissolved oxygen at lower temperature did not show any statistical difference between control
and all concentrations of the detergent solution. However, at
20 and 30 °C, the dissolved oxygen significantly reduced in
40 and 50 ppm of Surf Excel as compared to their respective
controls. At 40 and 50 °C temperatures the dissolved oxygen
was statistically equal (P > 0.05) in all detergent concentrations including control. In Surf Excel solutions there were
minor reductions in nitrates specifically at 20 and 30 °C.
There was no significant difference in the potassium content
in all the solutions. However, the phosphate content showed
a noticeable difference. The greater phosphate content was
recorded in the solutions of higher detergent concentrations.
Even 10 ppm of Surf Excel solutions had significantly higher
amount of phosphate as compared to control (Table 12.16).
12.3.6 Effect of pH
12.3.6.1 Sensitivity of Lemna minor
The data on the growth responses of Lemna minor treated at
varying pH levels with varying concentrations of Surf Excel
detergent are summarized in Table 12.17. The pH and variation in detergent concentration did not affect the dry matter
accumulation of Lemna minor. Similarly there was no impact
on chlorophyll content and potassium uptake but there was a
significant increase in nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. The
uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was significantly higher
at lower pH and in higher concentrations of Surf Excel. On
treatment with 50 ppm of Surf Excel, the optimum nitrogen
uptake was recorded at 7.0 pH. The optimum increase in
phosphorus uptake was recorded at pH 6.5 and concentration level of 40 and 50 ppm (Table 12.17).
12.3.6.2 Water Quality
Table 12.18 shows the data on physico–chemical properties of the water samples studied after the growth of Lemna
minor at varying pH and detergent concentrations. The statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in turbidity, DO, nitrates, and potassium contents in
water. However, in the detergent solutions there was significantly higher level of phosphates directly related with the
concentration levels. But no significant difference in phosphate content was recorded at varying pH and concentration
levels of the detergent (Table 12.18).
12.3.6.3 Sensitivity of Spirodela polyrrhiza
The data summarized in Table 12.19 shows the growth response of Spirodela polyrrhiza grown in varying concentrations of Surf Excel at varying pH levels. The dry matter accumulation was recorded to be higher at acidic pH (6.0–6.5
pH) in almost all detergent concentrations including the
control. The chlorophyll contents in Spirodela polyrrhiza
also increased significantly when treated with higher concentrations of Surf Excel (30–50 ppm) at lower pH (6.0 and
6.5). There was statistically no significant impact of pH on
potassium uptake at each concentration levels. The uptake
of potassium was, however, observed to be higher in plants
grown in 30 and 50 ppm of Surf Excel at all ranges of pH.
The uptake of nitrogen was mainly related with the concentrations of detergent. The nitrogen uptake was enhanced
with decrease in pH and increase in the concentration level
of detergent. The uptake of phosphorus was found related
12 Household Detergents Causing Eutrophication in Freshwater Ecosystems
were significantly high and the quantity consistently increased with the concentration of Surf Excel. The phosphate
accumulation of water was statistically found directly related
with temperature. With one exception there was no statistical difference in potassium accumulation in all treatments
including control. Similarly temperature also did not affect
the potassium content of the solution. It was noticeable that
the Lemna minor had high mortality in higher concentration
and temperature levels (Table 12.14).
12.3.5.3 Sensitivity of Spirodela polyrrhiza
The data summarized in Table 12.15 show the growth response of Spirodela polyrrhiza treated in small pots with
varying concentration of Surf Excel at varying temperatures.
The dry weight accumulation significantly decreased in
Spirodela polyrrhiza maintained at 40 and 50 °C in all treatments levels. The dry weight accumulation of Spirodela polyrrhiza was, however, statistically similar in all concentrations maintained at 10, 20, and 30 °C. Significant reductions
in dry weight and chlorophyll content were noted in all treatments maintained at 40 and 50 °C temperature (as recorded
in the samples collected either on 5th day, 9th day or after
the termination of the experiment at 11th day). Nitrogen uptake was optimum in 40 ppm concentration at 20 and 30 °C.
Significantly a higher amount of phosphorous uptake was
recorded at 20 and 30 °C temperatures in all doses of Surf
Excel. The uptake of phosphorous was also relatively higher
in all concentrations of Surf Excel at 10 °C but the uptake of
phosphorous did not show any significant decrease at 40 °C
of temperature. The potassium uptake in lower doses showed
some increase up to 40 °C temperature and in higher doses
only up to 20 °C of temperature (Table 12.15).
12.3.5.4 Water Quality
The data summarized in Table 12.16 show the physico–
chemical properties of the detergent solution as studied after
the growth of Spirodela polyrrhiza at varying temperature
levels. The turbidity was recorded to be significantly high
in 20 ppm and higher detergent concentrations at almost all
temperature levels as compared to their corresponding control. The pH of the solutions showed a consistent increase
with the concentration level. The pH of the 40 and 50 ppm
of the detergent solution was noted to be highest at 40 and
50 °C temperatures. The dissolved oxygen at lower temperature did not show any statistical difference between control
and all concentrations of the detergent solution. However, at
20 and 30 °C, the dissolved oxygen significantly reduced in
40 and 50 ppm of Surf Excel as compared to their respective
controls. At 40 and 50 °C temperatures the dissolved oxygen
was statistically equal (P > 0.05) in all detergent concentrations including control. In Surf Excel solutions there were
minor reductions in nitrates specifically at 20 and 30 °C.
There was no significant difference in the potassium content
in all the solutions. However, the phosphate content showed
a noticeable difference. The greater phosphate content was
recorded in the solutions of higher detergent concentrations.
Even 10 ppm of Surf Excel solutions had significantly higher
amount of phosphate as compared to control (Table 12.16).
12.3.6 Effect of pH
12.3.6.1 Sensitivity of Lemna minor
The data on the growth responses of Lemna minor treated at
varying pH levels with varying concentrations of Surf Excel
detergent are summarized in Table 12.17. The pH and variation in detergent concentration did not affect the dry matter
accumulation of Lemna minor. Similarly there was no impact
on chlorophyll content and potassium uptake but there was a
significant increase in nitrogen and phosphorus uptake. The
uptake of nitrogen and phosphorus was significantly higher
at lower pH and in higher concentrations of Surf Excel. On
treatment with 50 ppm of Surf Excel, the optimum nitrogen
uptake was recorded at 7.0 pH. The optimum increase in
phosphorus uptake was recorded at pH 6.5 and concentration level of 40 and 50 ppm (Table 12.17).
12.3.6.2 Water Quality
Table 12.18 shows the data on physico–chemical properties of the water samples studied after the growth of Lemna
minor at varying pH and detergent concentrations. The statistical analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in turbidity, DO, nitrates, and potassium contents in
water. However, in the detergent solutions there was significantly higher level of phosphates directly related with the
concentration levels. But no significant difference in phosphate content was recorded at varying pH and concentration
levels of the detergent (Table 12.18).
12.3.6.3 Sensitivity of Spirodela polyrrhiza
The data summarized in Table 12.19 shows the growth response of Spirodela polyrrhiza grown in varying concentrations of Surf Excel at varying pH levels. The dry matter accumulation was recorded to be higher at acidic pH (6.0–6.5
pH) in almost all detergent concentrations including the
control. The chlorophyll contents in Spirodela polyrrhiza
also increased significantly when treated with higher concentrations of Surf Excel (30–50 ppm) at lower pH (6.0 and
6.5). There was statistically no significant impact of pH on
potassium uptake at each concentration levels. The uptake
of potassium was, however, observed to be higher in plants
grown in 30 and 50 ppm of Surf Excel at all ranges of pH.
The uptake of nitrogen was mainly related with the concentrations of detergent. The nitrogen uptake was enhanced
with decrease in pH and increase in the concentration level
of detergent. The uptake of phosphorus was found related