The Use of Water Lettuce (Pistia stratiotesas) as Phytoremediator for Concentration and Deposits of Heavy Metal Lead (Pb) Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Gills

Abstract

This study discusses the ability of P. stratiotes to reduce the concentration of heavy metal in water so that it can reduce lead absorption in tilapia gills. This study used an experimental method with a complete random design. the main ingredients used were water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes), Pb (NO2)3 and tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Analysis of lead concentration was carried out with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The percentage of absorption capacity of P. stratiotes was up to 99.9% after 15 days of maintenance in media with 1 ppm lead contamination. The decrease in lead concentration in the media with P. stratiotes causes the decrease in lead absorption in the gills, and at the same time also increase the lead concentration found in the roots. The concentration of lead absorbed by the gills was reduced to 34.7%, lower than the treatment without the plants. The results of this study indicated that Pistia stratiotes can reduce lead concentration in water media. Therefore, this plant can be used as a phytoremediator for lead-laden wastewater in wider scoop.