Phytoremediation: An emerging green technology for dissipation of PAHs from soil

Abstract

Various pollutants are released into environment due to extensive anthropogenic activities. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one such pollutants that causes great damaging effect to ecology and living creatures. PAHs are known to have carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic, genotoxic effects on plants and animals. In order to reduce the level of PAHs in environment and to remediate the contaminated areas (soil), various techniques such as ozonation, coagulation, electroremediation etc. have been designed. One environment friendly, green technology is Phytoremediation in which plants play a key role on decontaminating the PAHs contaminated area. Phytoremediation of PAHs is an alternate to conventional methods owing to latter's disadvantages. In Phytoremediation, plants accumulate, stabilize, transform and volatilize the pollutants, thus helping in reclaiming the area. In view of increasing global concern towards PAHs pollution in environment, present review highlights the mechanism and efficiency of phytoremediation in reclamation of PAH contaminated area.