1
|
Li J, Xu X, Song L, Na M, Xu S, Zhang J, Huang Y, Li X, Zheng X, Zhou J. Investigating the Mechanism of Cadmium-Tolerant Bacterium Cellulosimicrobium and Ryegrass Combined Remediation of Cadmium-Contaminated Soil. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:1657. [PMID: 38931089 PMCID: PMC11207253 DOI: 10.3390/plants13121657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) pollution has been rapidly increasing due to the global rise in industries. Cd not only harms the ecological environment but also endangers human health through the food chain and drinking water. Therefore, the remediation of Cd-polluted soil is an imminent issue. In this work, ryegrass and a strain of Cd-tolerant bacterium were used to investigate the impact of inoculated bacteria on the physiology and biochemistry of ryegrass and the Cd enrichment of ryegrass in soil contaminated with different concentrations of Cd (4 and 20 mg/kg). The results showed that chlorophyll content increased by 24.7% and 41.0%, while peroxidase activity decreased by 56.7% and 3.9%. In addition, ascorbic acid content increased by 16.7% and 6.3%, whereas glutathione content decreased by 54.2% and 6.9%. The total Cd concentration in ryegrass increased by 21.5% and 10.3%, and the soil's residual Cd decreased by 86.0% and 44.1%. Thus, the inoculation of Cd-tolerant bacteria can improve the antioxidant stress ability of ryegrass in Cd-contaminated soil and change the soil's Cd form. As a result, the Cd enrichment in under-ground and above-ground parts of ryegrass, as well as the biomass of ryegrass, is increased, and the ability of ryegrass to remediate Cd-contaminated soil is significantly improved.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Li
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Xiaoyang Xu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Lanping Song
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Meng Na
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Shangqi Xu
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Yongjie Huang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Southern Modern Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China;
| | - Xianqing Zheng
- Institute of Eco-Environment and Plant Protection, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
| | - Jihai Zhou
- School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; (J.L.); (X.X.); (L.S.); (M.N.); (S.X.); (J.Z.); (Y.H.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Song L, Xu X, Zheng Y, Hong W, Li X, Ai Y, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Chen H, Huang Y, Zhang J, Zhou J. Dynamic mechanisms of cadmium accumulation and detoxification by Lolium perenne grown in soil inoculated with the cadmium-tolerant bacterium strain Cdq4-2. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 873:162314. [PMID: 36805060 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) contamination is a serious threat to food security and human health. The cost-effective in situ method of remediating Cd-contaminated soil uses Cd-tolerant microorganisms and Cd-enriching plants. The present study investigated the dynamic effects of inoculating soil with a Cd-tolerant bacteria strain Cdq4-2 (Enterococcus sp.) on the physiological and biochemical properties of perennial ryegrass Lolium perenne. The combined effects of remediating Cd-contaminated soil with this plant and these bacteria were also studied. An experiment was used to compare three treatments of L. perenne crops: 1) CK (control soil without Cd), 2) C (20 mg/kg Cd-contaminated soil), and 3) CB (20 mg/kg Cd-contaminated soil inoculated with bacteria Cdq4-2). The results show that compared with treatment C, the aboveground biomass, underground biomass, and total biomass of CB were 46.83-69.31%, 131.76-462.79%, and 62.65-101.53% greater, respectively. The superoxide dismutase activity of CB was 17.62-54.63% lower, while its peroxidase activity was 67.49-146.51% higher. The malondialdehyde concentration in CB was 30.40-40.24% more significant, the ascorbic acid concentration was 6.20-188.22% higher, and its glutathione concentration was 16.25-63.63% lower. The Cd concentrations of aboveground parts of a plant in treatment CB were 18.55% and 30.53% higher than those of C at days 20 and 40, respectively, while that of underground parts was 24.25% higher on day 40. The bioconcentration factors of aboveground and underground parts were higher in treatment CB on day 40. The inoculation of Cd-contaminated soils with bacteria Cdq4-2 promoted growth in L. perenne, improved its antioxidant ability, and promoted the absorption, translocation, and accumulation of Cd. Hence, it improved the effectiveness of L. perenne in remediating Cd-contaminated soils.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lanping Song
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Xiaoyang Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Yuanyuan Zheng
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Wanyue Hong
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Southern Modern Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
| | - Yanmei Ai
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Zekun Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Yongjie Huang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China
| | - Jihai Zhou
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-founded by Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu 241002, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Southern Modern Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Xu X, Zhou J, Chen K, Wang Y, Ai Y, Zhang C, Zhou S. Effect of indole-3-acetic acid supplementation on the physiology of Lolium perenne L. and microbial activity in cadmium-contaminated soil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:52483-52492. [PMID: 35258728 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19417-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) pollution has led to a serious deterioration in soil quality, plant growth, and human health. Therefore, restoration of soil quality is imperative. Phytoremediation is inexpensive and yields acceptable outcomes. Phytoremediation involves interaction between plant physiology and microbial activity and has been widely used in the remediation of Cd-contaminated soil. In the present study, Lolium perenne L. (perennial ryegrass) was planted in Cd-spiked soil and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) was used to explore the physiological and biochemical characteristics of ryegrass as well as soil enzyme activity to remove Cd. The present study provides a theoretical basis for the phytoremediation of Cd-contaminated soil. The study investigated the effect of 30-mg/kg Cd-spiked soil on ryegrass (C) and 30-mg/kg Cd-spiked soil on ryegrass treated with 10-mg/kg IAA (CI) compared with uncontaminated soil and ryegrass as the control. At the end of the experiment, the ryegrass biomass, total chlorophyll, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and soil invertase activity in C group were decreased by 33.7%, 23.0%, 29.7%, and 18.3%, respectively, whereas the peroxidase (POD) activity and soil basal respiration increased by 17.1% and 87.9%, respectively, compared with the control. In the CI group, the biomass of ryegrass, chlorophyll content, SOD activity, sucrase activity, fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolase activity, and Cd removal rates increased by 14.5%, 19.9%, 24.3%, 12.1%, 20.4%, and 15.1%, respectively, whereas the POD activity, soil basal respiration, and Cd residues in the soil declined by 8.0%, 15.0%, and 17.0%, respectively, compared with the C group. Therefore, exposure to exogenous IAA alleviated the Cd stress on ryegrass and soil microorganisms and improved Cd absorption by ryegrass from the contaminated soil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyang Xu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded By Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Jihai Zhou
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded By Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China.
| | - Kun Chen
- Institute of Soil Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing, 210018, China
| | - Yang Wang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded By Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Yanmei Ai
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded By Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Chenyang Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded By Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| | - Shoubiao Zhou
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Recovery and Reconstruction of Degraded Ecosystem in Wanjiang Basin Co-Founded By Anhui Province and Ministry of Education, School of Ecology and Environment, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, 241002, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Ng CC, Boyce AN, Abas MR, Mahmood NZ, Han F. Phytoassessment of Vetiver grass enhanced with EDTA soil amendment grown in single and mixed heavy metal-contaminted soil. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:434. [PMID: 31201562 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7573-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Over the years, ethylene-diamine-tetra-acetate (EDTA) has been widely used for many purposes. However, there are inadequate phytoassessment studies conducted using EDTA in Vetiver grass. Hence, this study evaluates the phytoassessment (growth performance, accumulation trends, and proficiency of metal uptake) of Vetiver grass, Vetiveria zizanioides (Linn.) Nash in both single and mixed heavy metal (Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn)-disodium EDTA-enhanced contaminated soil. The plant growth, metal accumulation, and overall efficiency of metal uptake by different plant parts (lower root, upper root, lower tiller, and upper tiller) were thoroughly examined. The relative growth performance, metal tolerance, and phytoassessment of heavy metal in roots and tillers of Vetiver grass were examined. Metals in plants were measured using the flame atomic absorption spectrometry (F-AAS) after acid digestion. The root-tiller (R/T) ratio, biological concentration factor (BCF), biological accumulation coefficient (BAC), tolerance index (TI), translocation factor (TF), and metal uptake efficacy were used to estimate the potential of metal accumulation and translocation in Vetiver grass. All accumulation of heavy metals were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in both lower and upper roots and tillers of Vetiver grass for Cd + Pb + Cu + Zn + EDTA treatments as compared with the control. The single Zn + EDTA treatment accumulated the highest overall total amount of Zn (8068 ± 407 mg/kg) while the highest accumulation for Cu (1977 ± 293 mg/kg) and Pb (1096 ± 75 mg/kg) were recorded in the mixed Cd + Pb + Cu + Zn + EDTA treatment, respectively. Generally, the overall heavy metal accumulation trends of Vetiver grass were in the order of Zn >>> Cu > Pb >> Cd for all treatments. Furthermore, both upper roots and tillers of Vetiver grass recorded high tendency of accumulation for appreciably greater amounts of all heavy metals, regardless of single and/or mixed metal treatments. Thus, Vetiver grass can be recommended as a potential phytoextractor for all types of heavy metals, whereby its tillers will act as the sink for heavy metal accumulation in the presence of EDTA for all treatments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chuck Chuan Ng
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Quest International University Perak, 30250, Perak, Malaysia.
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, 39217, USA.
| | - Amru Nasrulhaq Boyce
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mhd Radzi Abas
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Noor Zalina Mahmood
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Fengxiang Han
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, 39217, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jiang S, Luo J, Ye Y, Yang G, Pi W, He W. Using Pb Isotope to Quantify the Effect of Various Sources on Multi-Metal Polluted soil in Guiyu. BULLETIN OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION AND TOXICOLOGY 2019; 102:413-418. [PMID: 30603769 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-018-02534-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Guiyu is known as one of the largest e-waste disposal and recycling sites in China, which suffers greatly from heavy metal pollution. By evaluating the concentrations and distribution of 21 metal elements with Principal Component Analyses (PCA), five principal components were identified, which accounted for 70.4% of the information of the initial data matrix, including one e-waste recycling source, two geological sources, one source of human activities and one ocean aerosol source. Among them, the source of human activities cannot be detailed only by PCA. By using Pb isotope, the unexplained source was judged as battery sludge. Combining 21 metallic and metalloid element datasets with Pb isotope concentrations is more accurate and effective to identify uncertain sources in soil.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shizhong Jiang
- KLETOR Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jie Luo
- KLETOR Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Yuqun Ye
- KLETOR Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Wuhan, China
| | - Ge Yang
- KLETOR Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wen Pi
- KLETOR Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenxiang He
- KLETOR Ministry of Education, Yangtze University, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Luo J, Cai L, Qi S, Wu J, Gu XS. Heavy metal remediation with Ficus microcarpa through transplantation and its environmental risks through field scale experiment. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 193:244-250. [PMID: 29136571 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 11/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
The phytoremediation efficiency of various metals by Ficus microcarpa was evaluated through a real scale experiment in the present study. The root biomass production of the species varied significantly from 3.68 to 5.43 g because of the spatial heterogeneity of different metals. It would take 4-93 years to purify the excess Cd of the experimental site. Mercury was the most inflexible element which can barely be phytoremediated by F. microcarpa. After the species transplanted from the polluted soil to the clean site, Cd and Cu were transferred to the rhizosphere soil to different extent while the bulk soil was barely influenced. Relative to Cd and Cu, significantly fewer amounts of Pb and Hg were released. The highest concentrations of Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb in the clean soil were far below their corresponding safe thresholds for agricultural land after 3 months of the polluted plants were cultivated and metal concentrations of plant leaves were negligible, both indicated the low ecological risk of transplantation. Results from this study suggested a feasible disposal method for metal rich plants after phytoremediation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jie Luo
- College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, 111 University Road, Wuhan, China; China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Limei Cai
- College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, 111 University Road, Wuhan, China
| | - Shihua Qi
- China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jian Wu
- China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Road, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Xiaowen Sophie Gu
- The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3010 Victoria, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Antonkiewicz J, Kołodziej B, Bielińska EJ. Phytoextraction of heavy metals from municipal sewage sludge by Rosa multiflora and Sida hermaphrodita. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOREMEDIATION 2017; 19:309-318. [PMID: 27603091 DOI: 10.1080/15226514.2016.1225283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of the multiflora rose var. "Jatar" (Rosa multiflora Thunb. ex Murray) and the Virginia fanpetals (Sida hermaphrodita Rusby) to phytoextract heavy metals from municipal sewage sludge. The 6-year field experiment involved four levels of fertilization with sewage sludge at doses of 0, 10, 20, 40, and 60 Mg DM (Dry Mass) sludge ha-1. The increasing doses of sewage sludge were found to significantly increase the yield of multiflora rose and Virginia fanpetals biomass. They also significantly increased the content of heavy metals in these plants. The highest uptake of heavy metals by the multiflora rose and Virginia fanpetals crops was recorded at the fertilization dose of 60 Mg DM ⋅ ha-1. Our investigations show that the Virginia fanpetals was more efficient in the phytoextraction of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Cd from the sewage sludge than the multiflora rose, due to the greater yields and higher heavy metal uptake by the former plant. In turn, the multiflora rose phytoextracted greater amounts of Pb from the sewage sludge. The analyses indicate that the Virginia fanpetals can be used for phytoremediation (phytoextraction) of heavy metals contained in sewage sludge.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacek Antonkiewicz
- a Department of Agricultural and Environmental Chemistry , University of Agriculture in Krakow , Krakow , Poland
| | - Barbara Kołodziej
- b Department of Industrial and Medicinal Plants , University of Life Sciences in Lublin , Lublin , Poland
| | - Elżbieta Jolanta Bielińska
- c Institute of Soil Science, Environment Engineering and Management, University of Life Sciences in Lublin , Lublin , Poland
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gerhardt KE, Gerwing PD, Greenberg BM. Opinion: Taking phytoremediation from proven technology to accepted practice. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2017; 256:170-185. [PMID: 28167031 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Phytoremediation is the use of plants to extract, immobilize, contain and/or degrade contaminants from soil, water or air. It can be an effective strategy for on site and/or in situ removal of various contaminants from soils, including petroleum hydrocarbons (PHC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), solvents (e.g., trichloroethylene [TCE]), munitions waste (e.g., 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene [TNT]), metal(loid)s, salt (NaCl) and radioisotopes. Commercial phytoremediation technologies appear to be underutilized globally. The primary objective of this opinion piece is to discuss how to take phytoremediation from a proven technology to an accepted practice. An overview of phytoremediation of soil is provided, with the focus on field applications, to provide a frame of reference for the subsequent discussion on better utilization of phytoremediation. We consider reasons why phytoremediation is underutilized, despite clear evidence that, under many conditions, it can be applied quite successfully in the field. We offer suggestions on how to gain greater acceptance for phytoremediation by industry and government. A new paradigm of phytomanagement, with a specific focus on using phytoremediation as a "gentle remediation option" (GRO) within a broader, long-term management strategy, is also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen E Gerhardt
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Perry D Gerwing
- Earthmaster Environmental Strategies Inc., Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Bruce M Greenberg
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|