Iron and manganese concentration levels in watercress cultivated within the main stream of the Houay Pano catchment (Lao PDR).
Résumé
The bio-availability of metals to currently eaten aquatic herbs such as watercress is of important interest because of its potential impact on human health. Watercress grows in clear running water and is suited to the moist climates of mountainous tropical regions. In this study, the concentrations of Fe and Mn in watercress, stream bottom sediments and ambient stream water were measured in order to evaluate the impact of local environmental conditions on plant Fe- and Mn- accumulation levels. Two sites in the Houay Pano catchment in northern Laos (Luang Prabang province) where watercress is cultivated directly in the stream waters were selected for their contrasting environmental conditions (oxic vs. dysoxic to suboxic oxygen levels). Total, dissolved, exchangeable and potentially exchangeable Fe- and Mn- concentrations were measured. The results indicate that local environmental factors are determinant factors in the availability of these ionic species. Both the total metal content in the sediments and the metal ion speciation status (availability of dissolved species) determine the level of Fe and Mn uptake by watercress. The concentration levels in watercress increased by a factor of 7.5 for Mn and 2.2 for Fe in the dysoxic to suboxic site (swampy area) compared to the oxic site (upstream running water). The exchangeable and potentially exchangeable Fe- and Mn- concentrations in bottom sediments and the dissolved Fe- and Mn- contents of ambient water at both sites were consistent with the accumulation levels measured in the watercress.