Phytoremediation—An Overview

Authors: Arthur, Ellen¹; Rice, Pamela²; Rice, Patricia³; Anderson, Todd⁴; Baladi, Sadika⁵; Henderson, Keri⁶; Coats, Joel⁶

Source: Critical Reviews in Plant Sciences, Volume 24, Number 2, March-April 2005 , pp. 109-122(14)

Publisher: Taylor and Francis Ltd

Abstract:

The use of plants (directly or indirectly) to remediate contaminated soil or water is known as phytoremediation. This technology has emerged as a more cost effective, noninvasive, and publicly acceptable way to address the removal of environmental contaminants. Plants can be used to accumulate inorganic and organic contaminants, metabolize organic contaminants, and encourage microbial degradation of organic contaminants in the root zone. Widespread utilization of phytoremediation can be limited by the small habitat range or size of plants expressing remediation potential, and insufficient abilities of native plants to tolerate, detoxify, and accumulate contaminants. A better understanding and appreciation of the potential mechanisms for removing contaminants from the root zone and the interaction between plants, microorganisms, and contaminants will be useful in extending the application of phytoremediation to additional contaminated sites.

Keywords: hyperaccumulation; phytodegradation; phytoextraction; phytofiltration; phytoimmobilization; phytostabilization; rhizodegradation; rhizofiltration

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07352680590952496

Affiliations: 1: Bayer CropScience, 17745 South Metcalf Avenue, Stilwell, KS, 66085, USA 2: USDA-ARS, 1991 Upper Buford Circle, Room 439, St. Paul, MN, 55108, USA 3: BASF Corp., 26 Davis Dr., PO Box 13528, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-3528, USA 4: The Institute of Environmental and Human Health, Texas Tech University, Box 41163, Lubbock, TX, 79409-1163, USA 5: Bechtel Savannah River, Inc., Building 730-2B, Room 2114, Aiken, SC, 29808, USA 6: Pesticide Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Entomology, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA

Publication date: 2005-03-01

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