Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals and Pesticides Present in Water Using Aquatic Macrophytes

Abstract

Heavy metals occurring naturally on the earth are used in various industrial activities, whereas pesticides are man-made products used for protecting the crop. Heavy metals are inorganic contaminants and aggravated due to their long-term persistence, whereas pesticides encompass a variety of different types of chemicals including herbicides, insecticides, fungicides, and rodenticides. Hence, remediation of water contaminated by heavy metals and pesticides seeks urgent attention. Phytoremediation is an efficient alternative and less expensive method to strip heavy metals and pesticides directly from the water. Some of the aquatic plants used for removal of heavy metals and pesticides from water are duckweed (Lemna minor), water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), Hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata), water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica), water ferns (Azolla caroliniana, Azolla filiculoides, and Azolla pinnata), water cabbage (Pistia stratiotes), etc. Molecular tools are used to understand the mechanisms of uptake, sequestration, translocation, and tolerance in plants. The purpose of this review is to assess the current state of phytoremediation as an innovative technology and potential of aquatic macrophytes in remediation of water contaminated by heavy metals and pesticides.