Arsenic uptake and bioaccumulation in plants: A review on remediation and socio-economic perspective in Southeast Asia

Abstract

Arsenic contamination of soil and groundwater due to geological and anthropogenic sources is a profound environmental health concern. This study reports the mechanism of arsenic distribution in soil and their subsequent transmission and bioaccumulation in plants. The discussion extends towards the impact of arsenic into the food-chain and outlines the arsenic remediation strategies. This paper provides a comprehensive summary of recent and past studies on phytoremediation techniques listed in the available literature, such as phytoextraction and rhizodegradation, bacteria-assisted phytoremediation, and microbe-induced treatment of arsenic-contaminated soil. In addition, nanomaterials and nanocomposites have potential in treating arsenic-contaminated water due to their large surface area and high adsorption capacity. A wide variety of nanoparticles, notably iron nanoparticles, nano-zerovalent iron, and carbon nanotubes, have shown promising arsenic removal capacity. Adsorption is a widely used technology for arsenic removal because of its high removal efficiency, affordability, and convenient operational technique. A variety of nanomaterials and their potential in arsenic removal are thoroughly discussed in this review paper. It provides a comprehensive list of the sources and distribution of arsenic in the soil and water and also diverse methods of arsenic mitigation options.