Contaminants from waste have polluted rivers and other water bodies for a long time. However, a Canadian researcher recently said that native plants could offer a “green solution” to this problem.
Can native plants remove contaminants in water?
(Photo: Scott Webb of Unsplash)
Can native plants filter contaminants in water bodies?
We use soap, toothpaste and other products daily, but we do not know their components. A notable compound found in these consumables is triclosan.
This compound acts as an antimicrobial agent, slowing the growth of molds, bacteria and fungi. However, its environmental impact is not the same as this.
According to Phys.org, triclosan can potentially endanger organisms including fish, algae, etc. It also helps bacteria develop resistance to antibiotics, which causes a lot of problems for living things.
According to Laurianna Bedard of the University of Montreal, this contaminant can be eliminated using native plants.
In this regard, the master’s student in biological sciences integrates 50 mesocosms – or an outdoor experiment that works with controlled parameters.
For her test, she uses three plants native to Canada, including prairie cordgrass, Joe Pie weed and american reed.
With the help of his expert professors in biological sciences, Jacques Brisson and Joan Laur, Bédard was able to test their effectiveness in filtering this compound in an aquatic environment.
According to her, the experiment will reveal if these plants can eliminate triclosan. The test will also help him find out if the particular plant species is effectively monitoring the contaminant in the wetlands.
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Triclosan is everywhere
Apart from the usual consumer goods that we use on a daily basis, triclosan is also present in the soil and even in the human body. Bedard says it can be found in human urine, breast milk and sebum.
Some studies say that triclosan harms the neurological system. However, such research requires careful evaluation before concluding on this result.
Since some bodies of water don’t have treatment plants, Bedard finds the three native plants to be a great help in managing a contaminated aquatic environment.
“There are also many municipalities on the outskirts that do not fully filter their water and where the effluent still contains triclosan. Constructed wetlands containing these species could be added at the end of the treatment cycle. People with remote cottages could also create a corridor with these plants as they exit the water, especially since the three species all grow in Quebec and can easily be purchased at nurseries,” Bédard said.
Although sewage treatment plants are able to remove 90% of triclosan from water, this does not mean that you can completely eliminate it from other bodies of water.
Meanwhile, the European Environment Agency is writing a special report on sewage treatment plants at sewage treatment plants.
Elsewhere, Tech Times has reported that US-based researchers have found a unique way to grow plants via artificial photosynthesis.
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Written by Joseph Henry
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