What Plants Say About Pollution

by Heiky | August 14, 2008 at 09:10 am

1370 views | 8 Recommendations | 36 comments

We really have to listen to what plants have to say about pollution.

Scientists in Israel discovered that water pollution can be tested by "listening" to what algae have to say about the level of contamination. This could be done by shining a laser beam on tiny pieces of algae in the water and listening for sound waves that tell them about the type and amount of contamination in the water (Dubinsky's technique).

"It is a red light, telling us that something is beginning to go wrong with the quality of water," said Zvy Dubinsky, an aquatic biologist at Israel's Bar Ilan University. "Algae is the first thing to be affected by a change in water quality."

The secret to monitoring water quality through this technique is by measuring the rate of photosynthesis in the algae. When a laser is shone on the algae, some of the heat rebounds back into the water, creating sound waves. The amount of heat shot back depends on the condition of the algae. This is a relatively cheap and accurate way compared to the techniques now in use.

"Algae suffering from lead poisoning, like waste discharged from battery and paint manufacturing plants, will produce a different sound than those suffering from lack of iron or exposure to other toxins," said researcher Yulia Pinchasov.

She said that testing algae photosynthesis can determine water quality more accurately and easily than labor-intensive methods now used like chemical and radioactive carbon testing.

With proper funding, Dubinsky said a commercial product could be ready in about two years.

The team has published its research in numerous scientific journals, most recently in the journal Hydrobiologia.

Most of the oxygen in the atmosphere also comes from algae. Its over abundance and being readily avaliable further reinforces that Dubinsky's method is easy to perform.

148

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

Share: email story | add to any | | facebook | stumbleupon

recommend This comment thread is now closed

World_Groove

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 10:37 on August 14th, 2008

A great area for more research

chergaoui

at 11:46 on August 14th, 2008

We have a lot of things to learn from nature !

Nice article !

Cinographic

at 11:51 on August 14th, 2008

This photo was made in Iceland. Besides the most wonderfull and bizarre landscapes I ever saw and walked through, this algea especially cought my interest. The algea in Iceland is really green and looks healthy. So does the moss. If we continue to polute the earth, this is the last of it. I came to Iceland on a boat, because flying is much worse for the environment and I don't have a car or drive one anymore. We should appreciate what we can see close to home, instead of flying all over the world poluting it. You can go further away, but getting there might take more time. Of course I understand some people have to fly, for work perhaps, but the less the better! If you appreciate this picture please take care!

Cinographic has contributed a photo to this story.

Cinographic

at 11:56 on August 14th, 2008

ChChChacos

at 12:35 on August 14th, 2008

This photo was taken in St.Petersburg, FL downtown at Demon's Landing. The water in this photo is apart of the Tampa Bay.

ChChChacos has contributed a photo to this story.

tommysan62

at 12:50 on August 14th, 2008

I took this photo on August 3rd 2008 in the Uinta National Forest near the popular Butterfly Lake. This was a smallish puddle on the South West corner of Castle Lake. I loved the reflection of the fir trees in the water over the algae.

tommysan62 has contributed a photo to this story.

streickly

at 13:42 on August 14th, 2008

Lake Titicaca, off the floating island Uros. Looking into the deep waters of the lake, far from the shore of Puno, the water looks clear and clean - so much so that the locals brag of its purity. However, watching this woman skimming the film of algae off the water hugging the shores of her home island Uros, we were not convinced. Plus, we questioned, with 500 extra tourist bodies tramping through the Titicaca islands each day during the high season, where does that waste go? Right in the lake.

streickly has contributed a photo to this story.

John Hardy posting variously as jonquil_d and John D (not verified)

at 14:02 on August 14th, 2008

I'm sure this sounds like a fascinating area for research...I remember when I did Botany at University (as an outside subject) in the 1960s we were told that if we saw a plentiful supply of ulva lactuca (sea lettuce) on a beach we should avoid bathing on that beach as it was an almost certain sign that the beach was sewage polluted....things are obviously a b it more technical now.. not really sure how my pictures further the argument one way or the other but if they help please use them.

the HPB

at 14:29 on August 14th, 2008

Algae collected in the leeward side of a small bay on Campus Lake, SIUC, Carbondale Illinois, Aug. 2008.

the HPB has contributed a photo to this story.

i am The Justice League

at 14:54 on August 14th, 2008

This is the pond on my parents land. It literally went from clear to this in about a week.

i am The Justice League has contributed a photo to this story.

Barry Artiste

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 15:02 on August 14th, 2008

Heiky, I like this story. It's good stuff. I also use plants (as they pick up contaminates, mercury, lead etc) on native reserves when doing human health risk assessments, mostly plants by rivers, as well as fish and sometimes even scat from animals who feed off the plants, as deer are eaten by humans, hence the circle of life when it comes to the environment.

screendmon

at 15:15 on August 14th, 2008

This hidden pond is above Mingo Creek Park in Pennsylvania

screendmon has contributed a photo to this story.

Super Fun Squirrel

at 15:33 on August 14th, 2008

You can see more photos of the same structure on my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/superfun/sets/72157606340537165/

Super Fun Squirrel has contributed a photo to this story.

bobistraveling

at 16:22 on August 14th, 2008

This is from the White Pines Nature Preserve South of Pittsboro North Carolina at the confluence of the Rocky and Deep Rivers.

bobistraveling has contributed a photo to this story.

. andré bernardo

at 17:10 on August 14th, 2008

sounds good :)

. andré bernardo has contributed a photo to this story.

Romy Azeer

at 17:50 on August 14th, 2008

"Eyewitness"... the exact words i was thinking to use bout sharing the info's about the footage. It was taken in remote jungle in Sabah, Malaysia. Such scenery we can never found in the urban city. What excite me most is when the location that we went is mostly covered with fertile algae that really intrigue us to take the shots.

As mention by the local guide, it is an example of "free pollution" air the place had, contribute the vast grows of algae all over the place, and personally i guess i agree with it. The fresh air, and the cool humid atmosphere really makes you wonder how is it gonna be if living in the urban city is as good as this. However it also makes you wonder "am i gonna be able to show this to my kids in future??" The concern about the deforestation in most part of the world for the sack of "development" must be taken seriously.What will happen?? How is it gonna effect our new generation an so on.

Romy Azeer has contributed a photo to this story.

Rich Hodgson

at 17:56 on August 14th, 2008

This algae is growing in a the middle of a creek that happens to pass over hot springs. It is located in the Long Valley Caldera in Mono County, California.

Rich Hodgson has contributed a photo to this story.

huntercreek69

at 18:06 on August 14th, 2008

Algae to me is a very important part of the menu to feed wildlife in our domestic waters, such as ponds, sloughs, etc.. Algae breathes life into otherwise stagnant waters......too many times we see algae being removed from lakes and such because it's not pleasing to humans....who forget about wildlife while they seek to satisfy their own selfish desires. The algae in my photos is in a small lake (Mill Lake) in the center of our small city ....I call it the "Central Park' of our town...Abbotsford, British Columbia which is situated in the Fraser Valley of south-western B.C., The lake has a plethora of wildlife...ducks, geese, eagles, turtles, etc..

Sylvia Colón

at 18:04 on August 14th, 2008

I took this photo in the Seven Seas beach of Fajardo, Puerto Rico.

Sylvia Colón has contributed a photo to this story.

mojo621

at 18:37 on August 14th, 2008

Kayaking in the Ichetucknee River in North Central Florida I took a few minutes to snorkle and take some pictures of the bottom. I was captivated by the motion of the grasses and algae that covered the rocks. I wondered what impact ecotourism (tubing) farming, industry and development have done to this marvelous river. I've seen the damage that fertilizers have done to nearby rivers. In Florida our water table is very close to the land surface and in North Central Florida the aquifer breaks through to create these precious wonders. We need to protect these natural resources. View the Ichetucknee River set here.

mojo621 has contributed a photo to this story.

JAGaroutte

at 18:29 on August 14th, 2008

While vacationing at Big Kandiyohi Lake near Lake Lillian, MN this past July, I took this photograph of the lake. Everyday the water on our side of the lake would turn thick and green--almost like finger paint--due to the algae. Normally, Minnesota lakes are crystal clear, but due to the nitrogen run off from the farms that surround the lake, the algae goes crazy. The process is called eutophication. Other lakes in the area didn't have this issue ... at least not to this magnitude. In fact, in nearby Litchfield, MN, Ripley Lake was so clear you could see to the bottom! The locals are used to the water being this way everyday, but for those of us who expected otherwise, it came as quite a shock--quite a disappointment to those of us who wanted to spend our nights camping under the stars and our days swimming in the lake ...

JAGaroutte has contributed a photo to this story.

tgroeger

at 18:34 on August 14th, 2008

This alge is in the Lussier hot pools near Fairmount BC Canada.

tgroeger has contributed a photo to this story.

djspyhunter

at 19:37 on August 14th, 2008

Algae from ponds at Heron's Head Park, San Francisco.

djspyhunter has contributed a photo to this story.

kjelle392

at 21:39 on August 14th, 2008

kjelle392 has contributed a photo to this story.

kathyJv

at 22:12 on August 14th, 2008

Photo in question was taken in Bulgaria on the coast of the Black Sea, these crabs were dead, but they looked so alive on the green algae, that I just had to take the shot.

kathyJv has contributed a photo to this story.

cyn_nister

at 22:49 on August 14th, 2008

This boat is collecting algae from Lake KunMing, Summer Palace in Beijing. Beijing is one of the most polluted cities in the world, so I wonder what stories this mountain of algae will say?
cyn_nister has contributed a photo to this story.

blue fin art

at 00:04 on August 15th, 2008

Shot taken at Spittal Beach in Berwick-Upon-Tweed in Northumberland, United Kingdom.

These rocks covered with algae were revealed by a low spring tide this summer

blue fin art has contributed a photo to this story.

linvinick

at 04:05 on August 15th, 2008

I've never seen such bright green algae before...Just had to stop and take a picture of this canal on a hot July day.

linvinick has contributed a photo to this story.

ashleys237

at 07:40 on August 15th, 2008

Great story! This stuff is amazing! The picture is of bull kelp found in the Puget Sound off the San Juan Islands in Washington. I took this while kayaking. The kelp provides a home to tons of marine life including otters. Its the fastest growing sea kelp in the world growing up to 200 ft in one summer! It tastes good too! Thanks Heiky!

ashleys237 has contributed a photo to this story.