Full Length Research Paper
Abstract
Remediation of Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and Manganese (Mn) by the three earthworm species - Eudrilus eugeniae, Eisenia fetida and Perionyx excavatus from three different urban wastes (Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Market Waste (MW) and Flower Waste (FW)) through the vermicomposting process carried out for sixty days was investigated. The metals concentrations increased gradually from the initial stage till end (P<0.05). Metals concentrations in earthworm tissues was significantly higher in E. eugeniae than that of E. fetida and P. excavatus(P<0.05). The concentrtions of Cd and Cu were higher in earthworms sampled from vermicompost of MSW and of Pb, Zn and Mn were higher in that of MW. Bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of metals (Cd > Zn > Pb > Cu > Mn) implied that Cd accumulation in earthworm tissue was more than that of substrate whereas the reverse was true for other metals.
Key words: Bioremediation, urban waste, heavy metals.
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