International Journal of Environmental Sciences

Heavy metals are essential for proper functioning of the biological systems and their deficiency or excess could lead to a number of disorders. Aquatic environment is contaminated by heavy metals; mainly originate from mining activities, intensive agricultural practices, discharge of untreated industrial effluents and application of sewage sludge and indiscriminate disposal of domestic and municipal wastes. The objective of the study is to analyze the absorption potential for heavy metals by selected ferns associated with Neyyar River. Acrostichum aureum Lam, Adiantum latifolium L., Blechnum orientale L. and Pityrogramma calomelanos (L.) Link were collected from four different locations along Neyyar River and analyzed different trace metals such as copper, zinc, cadmium, chromium and lead for a period of one year. The study revealed that all the four species analyzed were with high absorption potential for these metals and can be used as bioindicators for trace metal pollution.