Assessment of heavy metals content in Para grass (Urochola mutica) from waste discharge of Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, India

The purpose of study was to assess the accumulation of heavy metals (Zinc, Nickel, Copper, Manganese, Cadmium, Chromium, Iron, and Lead) in agricultural soils and their uptake by grass being irrigated by municipal sewage water. In current time the environment is heavily polluted by various toxic metals, which create a danger for all living beings. Phytoremediation can be potentially used to remediate metal contaminated sites. it has been observed that high amounts of heavy metals such as Fe>Zn>Mn>Cu>Cr>Ni>Cd>Pb in the para grass (Urochola Mutica) samples according to the Indian Standards. Effluent contains nutrients as well toxic components depending upon the source of production. The direct discharge of sewage from Automobile Industry and industrial effluents contaminate the agricultural soils in the study region. Present study highlights the fact that Urochola Mutica accumulates large concentration of heavy metals, therefore can play an important role in the phytoremediation but transfer the metals into animals through food chain.