Bioaccumulation and toxicity evaluation of cadmium and mercury in llanero grass (Brachiaria dictyoneura)

Abstract

The transfer of mercury and cadmium in Brachiaria dictyoneura was studied in terms of bioaccumulative capacity and as a bioindicator. During the evaluation cadmium in B. dictyoneura show a decrease of 65%. The toxicity of cadmium was correlated with the consecutive accumulation of the cation during the monitoring time. With respect to mercury, a decrease in cation content in the plant was observed 30 days after exposure, presenting possible phytoreductión of mercury ion Hg 2+ to Hg° in B. dictyoneura and subsequent evaporation. The tolerance and accumulator capacity of B. dictyoneura could be used for phytoremediation of sites co-contaminated with Cd and Hg.