ASSESSING BIOACCUMULATION BEHAVIOUR AND PHYTOREMEDIATION POTENTIAL OF IONIZABLE ORGANIC CONTAMINANTS IN WETLAND PLANTS

Abstract

The occurrence of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in the environment has raised public health concerns in recent years. This thesis involves a series of laboratory investigations and field work to assess the bioaccumulation behavior of several PPCPs and PFASs in wetland plants (Typha angustifolia & Scirpus mucronatus), common cattails found in wetlands. Continuous flow-through exposure experiments in mesocosm constructed wetlands were designed and implemented to assess uptake and elimination kinetics, bioaccumulation behaviour and translocation of these compounds in wetland plants. Field investigations were carried out in Lorong Halus Wetland to assess the natural attenuation and phytoremediation efficacy of PPCPs and PFASs in this full-scale constructed wetland in Singapore.The results showed rapid uptake and depuration of PPCPs. Both plants were capable of translocating the contaminants into leave tissues. In Lorong Halus Wetland, the decrease in concentrations as the water flows through the treatment system indicates that the wetland has capabilities to remediate PPCPs and PFASs. The cattail Typha angustifolia was shown to be capable of remediating PPCPs and PFASs.