Cadmium (Cd) pollution is a serious threat to both the environment and public health. It is commonly found in water, soil, and air, leading to high Cd levels in ecosystems. Its ability to dissolve raises health concerns as it contaminates the food chain. Recent studies support using phytoremediation, which involves plants like water lettuce ( Pistia stratiotes ), as an effective method to deal with Cd-contaminated areas. In Paonta Sahib, Himachal Pradesh, a study of Cd concentrations in eleven industrial effluents shows significant differences, especially in the pharmaceutical industry (3.128 ± 0.408 mg/kg) and cosmetics (1.779 ± 0.235 mg/kg). These levels exceed acceptable limits by 391% and 222%, respectively. The Heavy Metal Pollution Index (HPI) for these areas is 23,970.17, indicating a very high pollution level, with 63.6% of sites marked as heavily contaminated. Statistical tests, such as the Paired Sample t-Test and Pearson's correlation, confirm the pollution trends, showing a 3.9-fold increase in Cd levels in severely contaminated areas. Pistia stratiotes shows notable Cd absorption with a two-phase accumulation pattern in its roots. Initially, the levels rise quickly before stabilizing. Cd levels in the roots increased by 6,757% by day 7 and reached 8.60% by day 21. The shoots accumulated Cd more slowly, with increases of 1,276% by day 7 and 249% by day 21. The root-to-shoot ratio rose from 0.87 to 4.35 by day 7 before declining to 1.35 by day 21. This data underscores the connection between industrial activities and environmental harm, highlighting the need for effective monitoring and strategies to reduce Cd exposure. The findings support phytoremediation methods to lessen health risks in aquatic ecosystems. Ongoing research into bioaccumulation is vital for promoting sustainable environmental health efforts.
Kanta et al. (Sun,) studied this question.