[Research advances in phytoremediation of polychiorinated biphenyls (PCBS)]

This paper reviewed the research advance in PCBs phytoremediation, with the focus on the roles and mechanisms of plants in the removal of PCBs from the environment. In the process of PCBs removal, plants acted not only as a supporter of biodegradation, but also as an active participator in metabolism. Plants could absorb and accumulate PCBs from the environment, and store the non-toxic metabolic products in their tissues. Root exudates could degrade PCBs directly by the contained ectoenzymes, or indirectly through stimulating the activity of rhizospheric microbes. The internal and external factors affecting the phytoremediation of PCBs, including plant species, their culture types and biomass, as well as the initial concentration of PCBs and their physical and chemical characters, were also discussed.