Phytoremediation potential for radionuclide removal following the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster

The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant (CNPP) disaster in 1986 released significant amounts of radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs), radiostrontium (⁹⁰Sr), and radioiodine (¹³¹I) across Europe and eastern areas of Russia, leading to widespread environmental contamination that negatively impacted human health and harmed flora and fauna in a variety of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The long-term effects of the Chernobyl incident remain a persistent concern, particularly due to radiocesium which has a half-life of 30.17 years, and various environmental and human-driven events that continue to resuspend radionuclides into the environment. Nearly four decades after the incident, various remediation efforts have been implemented, including physical, chemical, and biological approaches. However, no method has proven to be completely effective, and the significant remaining contamination necessitates the implementation of new strategies for remediation. Some of the most promising remediation techniques fall under the science of bioremediation; the use of bacteria, algae, fungi, and plants to remove contaminants from the environment. Phytoremediation is promising due to its environmentally friendly nature and its cost. This review article examines the environmental impacts of the Chernobyl fallout, evaluates remediation efforts over the past four decades, and explores emerging phytoremediation strategies that could enhance radionuclide removal from contaminated terrestrial and aquatic environments.