Biomonitoring of Fresh Water of Loktak Lake, India

Abstract

The fresh water Mollusca (Scientific name; Pila globosa) was collected from nine different
stations of Loktak lake to investigate the elemental profile in the tissue of it as it can be
used as biomonitor of the pollution of water. As the Gastropoda family is a feeder filter, it
is very useful to examine the trace elements as well as toxic elements in the environment
where it survives. The elements detected in the samples are Mg, Al, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Mn,
Fe, Cu, Zn, Se, Br, Rb, Sr and the elemental concentrations were compared with FAO
limits to check their toxic levels. The elements detected so far are the time integral of their
concentration so, that are several orders of magnitude above ambient water
concentrations. The analysis of the elements was done with the help of energy dispersive
X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) for its quick and multi-elemental detection capability.

 Keywords: Pila globosa, Biomonitoring, Loktak lake, Trace elements, EDXRF