12 - Phytoremediation of heavy metals, metalloids, and radionuclides: Prospects and challenges

Abstract

Heavy metals, metalloids, and radionuclides at their toxic concentrations have been reported to negatively affect the structural and physiological functioning of microorganisms, plants, and animals. These metals retain in the soil for very long and thus disturb flora and fauna of the particular area. High-cost methods like carbon adsorption, air stripping, and biosorption methods are being utilized, but the role of plants cannot be nullified because these they without posing a negative impact on our environment are aiding in remediating the heavy metal contamination. Different phytoremediation approaches are available, which are involved in the remediation of heavy metals/metalloids/radionuclides from the contaminated soil. The most extensively used phytoremediation approaches like phytodegradation, phytoextraction, phytofiltration, phytostabilization, and phytovolatilizationare used for remediation of metals/metalloids/radionuclide-contaminated soil. In this chapter, we discuss the applicability and drawbacks of phytoremediation along with the strategies for improving and modifying certain traits of plants to ascertain effective phytoremediation of heavy metals, metalloids, and radionuclides.