Content of selected chemicals in two protected macrophytes : Nymphaea alba (L.) and Nuphar lutea (L.) SIBITH. & SM. in relation to site chemistry

Concentration of heavy metals and macronutrients were measured in water, bottom sediments and in theleaves of Nymphaea alba and Nuphar lutea sampled from fourteen eutrophic lakes in West Poland. The concentrations of macro- and microelements in examined plants differ significantly and depend on chemical properties of the water and bottom sediments. These dependence are confirmed by calculated significant correlations. Strong positive correlations were found between concentrations of Ba, Co, Mn, and Cu in Nymphaea alba as well as Sr in Nuphar lutea and concentration of this element in environment, indicating the potential of examined plants for monitoring for these metals.