Can Water Hyacinth Clean Highly Polluted Waters? —A Short Paper for Discussion
Author(s)
Hucai Zhang*
Affiliation(s)
The Laboratory of Plateau Lake Ecology & Global Change, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China..
The Laboratory of Plateau Lake Ecology & Global Change, Yunnan Normal University, Kunming, China..
ABSTRACT
Recently local government and environmental protection authorities in China have turned to the water hyacinth, one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds, to reduce nutrient concentrations in highly eutrophic lake waters, especially in Lake Dian in southwestern China’s Yunnan Province. Although we do not reject using water hyacinth to reduce lake eutrophication, it is not a complete solution. In our view, a more complete solution requires a holistic consideration of watershed or drainage characteristics, and a solid understanding of the limnological features of individual lakes. Before the bio-geochemistry and toxicological effects of water hyacinth be thoroughly understood, applying it widely to lake restoration and overstating its practical value is not only irresponsible but also dangerous.
Recently local government and environmental protection authorities in China have turned to the water hyacinth, one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds, to reduce nutrient concentrations in highly eutrophic lake waters, especially in Lake Dian in southwestern China’s Yunnan Province. Although we do not reject using water hyacinth to reduce lake eutrophication, it is not a complete solution. In our view, a more complete solution requires a holistic consideration of watershed or drainage characteristics, and a solid understanding of the limnological features of individual lakes. Before the bio-geochemistry and toxicological effects of water hyacinth be thoroughly understood, applying it widely to lake restoration and overstating its practical value is not only irresponsible but also dangerous.
Cite this paper
H. Zhang, "Can Water Hyacinth Clean Highly Polluted Waters? —A Short Paper for Discussion," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 4, 2012, pp. 340-341. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.34043.
H. Zhang, "Can Water Hyacinth Clean Highly Polluted Waters? —A Short Paper for Discussion," Journal of Environmental Protection, Vol. 3 No. 4, 2012, pp. 340-341. doi: 10.4236/jep.2012.34043.
References
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[1] R. Stone, “China Aims to Turn Tide against Toxic Lake Pollution,” Science, Vol. 333, No. 6047, 2011, pp. 1210- 1211. doi:10.1126/science.333.6047.1210 [2] L. Guo, “Doing Battle With the Green Monster of Taihu Lake,” Science, Vol. 317, No. 5842, 2007, p. 1166. doi:10.1126/science.317.5842.1166 [3] S. C. H. Barrett, “Waterweed Invasions,” Scientific Ameri- can, Vol. 264, No. 4, 1989, pp. 90-97. [4] L. G. Holm, D. L. Plucknett, J. V. Pancho and J. P. Her- berger, “The World’s Worst Weeds: Distribution and Bi- ology”, Kreiger Publishing Co., Malabar, 1991. [5] J. D. Madsen, “Growth and Biomass Allocation Patterns during Water Hyacinth Mat Development,” Journal of Aquatic Plant Management, Vol. 31, 1993, pp. 134-137. [6] N. D. Vietmeyer, “The Beautiful Blue Devil,” Natural History, Vol. 84, 1975, pp. 64-73.