Waste contaminants have been polluting the rivers and other bodies of water for a long time. However, a Canadian researcher recently said native plants could offer a "green solution" to this problem.

Can Native Plants Eliminate Contaminants in the Water?

(Photo : Scott Webb from Unsplash)
Can native plants filter contaminants in the bodies of water?

We use soap, toothpaste, and other products daily, but we're unaware of their components. One notable compound that is present in these consumables is triclosan.

This compound acts as an antimicrobial agent, slowing down mold, bacteria, and fungi growth. However, its environmental impact is not the same as this.

According to Phys.org, triclosan can potentially endanger organisms, including fish, algae, and more. It also helps the bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance, which poses a lot of trouble to living things.

As per the University of Montreal's Laurianna Bedard, this contaminant can be removed with the use of native plants.

Regarding this, the master's student in Biological Sciences incorporates 50 mesocosms-- or an outdoor experiment that operates with controlled settings.

For her test, she uses three native plants in Canada, which include prairie cordgrass, spotted joe pye weed, and American reed.

With the help of her professors with expertise in Biological Sciences, Jacques Brisson and Joan Laur, Bedard was able to test out how effective they are in filtrating this compound in an aquatic environment.

According to her, the experiment will reveal if these plants can remove triclosan. The test will also help her discover if the particular plant species effectively monitor the contaminant in the wetlands.

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Triclosan is Everywhere

Aside from the usual consumer goods that we use daily, triclosan is also present in soil and even in the human body. Bedard says that it can be found in human urine, breast milk, and sebum.

Some studies say that triclosan harms the neurological system. However, such research further needs thorough evaluation before concluding that outcome.

Since some water lands have no treatment plants, Bedard sees the three native plants to be of great help for managing a contaminated aquatic environment.

"There are also many municipalities in outlying areas that do not fully filter their water and where effluents still contain 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 at their water outlet, particularly since the three species all grow in Quebec and can easily be purchased at nurseries," Bedard said.

Although treatment plants are capable of eradicating 90% of triclosan in the water, it does not mean that you can completely remove it from other bodies of water.

Meanwhile, the European Environment Agency writes a special report about treatment plants in sewage sites.

Elsewhere, Tech Times reported that US-based researchers have found a unique way to grow plants via artificial photosynthesis.

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Written by Joseph Henry