Phytoremediation: A Green Approach to Fight Heavy Metal Contamination in the Soil

Abstract

The purpose of this review paper is to present the extent and importance of the problem of heavy metal contamination in the environment, most notably in the soil. Phytoremediation is one approach for tackling this issue through the use of leafy plants for the uptake of excess heavy metals from the soil. An example of such plant species are the members of the Brassica genus which, when put in contact with different heavy metals present in soil, will act to remove them and therefore decrease their concentration. Heavy metals that are mostly observed in this context were copper, lead, and zinc, because of their abundance in different ecological environments. Different plants in general have a satisfactory phytoremediation potential, depending on the plant part, heavy metals in question, as well as used remediation technique. Therefore, introducing Brassica spp. into use would be a good way of enhancing the quality of the environment.