AN ASSESSMENT OF HEAVY METAL POLLUTION AND ACCUMULATION POTENTIAL OF MANGROVE FERN ACROSTICHUM AUREUM L. FROM SOUTH WEST COAST OF KARNATAKA, INDIASONIYA MARSI LOBO AND G. KRISHNAKUMARAbstract The heavy metal status and phyto remediation potential of the Mangrove fern Acrostichum aureum in the West Coast of Karnataka-India was assessed. Heavy metal quantification was done using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Pb, Ni, Cr, Zn and Cu were monitored in the sediments and in the plants. Of these, Zn and Cu were essential elements and Pb, Ni and Cr were nonessential elements. Metal abundance showed the order of Zn>Cr>Cu>Ni>Pb in the sediments. The concentration of these metals varied between the studied sites. A geo-accumulation index (Igeo) was used to determine the degree of contamination in the sediments. Igeo values for these metals did not show pollution from these metals in the study area. Bioconcentration factor results showed that A. aureum is a bioaccumulator of heavy metals.
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