Phytoremediation of heavy metals from soils

Phytoremediation offers owners and managers of metal-contaminated sites an innovative and cost-effective option to address recalcitrant environmental contaminants. The use of plants or plant products to restore or stabilize contaminated sites, collectively known as phytoremediation, takes advantage of the natural abilities of plants to take up, accumulate, store, or degrade organic and inorganic substances. Although not a new concept, phytoremediation is currently being re-examined as an environmentally friendly, cost-effective means of reducing metal contaminated soil and other substrates throughout North America and Europe. Processes include using plants that tolerate and accumulate metals at high levels (phytoextraction) and using plants that can grow under conditions that are toxic to other plants while preventing, for example, soil erosion (phytostabilization). Governments worldwide are establishing research and demonstration programs to use this potential. Environment Canada has developed a database (PHYTOREM) of 775 plants with capabilities to accumulate or hyperaccumulate one or several of 19 key metallic elements. This chapter addresses key research, potential benefits and limitations, and the potential future needs for phytoremediation. Issues related to intellectual property law, commercialization and public acceptance are touched on.