CONTENTS OF CADMIUM, COPPER, ZINC, AND LEAD IN ORGANS OF RHIZOPHORA MANGLE IN RIVER SEVILLA MOUTH-CIÉNAGA GRANDE DE SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIAN CARIBBEAN

Abstract

In order to determine the contents of cadmium, copper, zinc, and lead in leaves, stalks, and root of Rhizophora mangle, samples from three parcels located in the river Sevilla mouth – Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, were taken in October 2003. Measures of metals concentrations were made through the Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry technique (ICP–AES). The results indicated that lead concentration in R. mangle organs was below method detection limit (<2.38 μg/g) except the absorbent root (16.3 μg/g); and significant differences exist in the contents of cadmium, copper, zinc, and lead into R. mangle organs, following this concentration order: absorbent roots > stalk > young leaves > adult leaves > aerial roots.