Floating aquatic macrophytes as a decontamination tool for antimicrobial drugs.

Plant capability to lower antimicrobial drug concentration, such as sulfonamide (Sulfadimethoxine) and a quinolone (Flumequine) - widely used in intensive farming, has been tested in laboratory models already set up in previous experiments. The aim of this work was to determine phytoremediation capability of different macrophytes, Azolla, Lemna and Pistia, by evaluating the effects on both plant growth and drug uptake/degradation. The three plant models survived even at very high drug concentrations although toxic effects were evident, particularly in the case of Pistia that died after 3 weeks at the highest concentrations. Furthermore the three plant models are able to absorb and store amount of drugs, particularly Azolla showed high drug uptake and degradation. These results lead us to hypothesise an important role for these plants as a bioremediation technique in the future.