Effectiveness of bio- phytoremediation on heavy metal contaminated soils: A review

Abstract

The need to restore the environment contaminated with heavy metals to its original ornear original status has become necessary due to the harm high concentration of heavy metals cause to the environment and the food chain. In this review, different remediation approach was considered, their merits and short coming. Focus was more on bio-phytoremediation: use of some selected plants and micro-organisms to decontaminate heavy metals from contaminated sites. . Differentplant species especially hyper accumulative plants were used to decontaminate heavy metals from contaminated site. Vetiver grass (Vetiveriazizanioides) was more effective among all the plant species used. It is environmentally friendly and cost effective. Its ability to accumulate and uptake heavy metals from the soil and translocate same to the shoot was high. Combination of both plants and micro-organisms proved to be more effective with a faster result in remediating a heavy metal polluted soil. Amendment of the soil with organic manures significantly increased the percentage of heavy metals removed from the soil and reduced the uptake of contaminants (heavy metals) from the plant tissues.