Chromium Contamination from Tanning Industries and Phytoremediation Potential of Native Plants: A Study of Savar Tannery Industrial Estate in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Tannery wastewater is a significant cause of chromium (Cr) contamination in land and water. This study assessed Cr contamination caused by the discharge of tannery wastewater in the Dhaleshwari River and identified possible native plants for phytoremediation of Cr. Water, soil and sediments samples were collected from upstream and downstream of the wastewater discharge channel of Savar tannery industrial estate situated on the bank of the river. Samples of root, stem, leaf and fruit of four selected plants (i.e., Eichhornia crassipes , Xanthium strumarium L., Cynodon dactylon , Croton bonplandianum Baill.) were also collected from those sampling points. The total Cr in acid digested samples were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. High concentrations of Cr were detected in the water, soil and sediment samples collected near the wastewater discharge channel. Of all the plant species, Xanthium strumarium L. exhibited high translocation factors (TF) and bioconcentration factors (BCF) for Cr. Based on the findings of this study Xanthium strumarium L. is preferable as a native species for phytoremediation of Cr.