Phytoremediation: Green Solution to Pollution

Current climate change and global warming clearly reflect the fragile state of environment. The rising demand by the ever-increasing population has resulted in high industrial and urban activities which have resulted in pollution and deterioration of the environment. Industrial and agricultural activities discharge waste consisting of different types of toxic pollutants to the environment without any prior processing. These pollutants are highly toxic and can initiate severe health issues among humans. The overburden of pollution has unchecked the environment self-restoration and rejuvenation potential. Therefore, it is crucial to address the problem environmental pollution and to treat it timely, before it is too late. Green treatment methods for managing and removing environmental pollution are the only desirable option to attain a healthy environment without further damaging it. Phytoremediation is one such method that aid in removal, degradation or immobilization of environmental pollutants with the help of different types of plants and associated microorganisms through their complex interaction. Plants have versatile metabolism and have potential to adapt to various toxic pollutants upon exposure. Thus, phytoremediation can be applied to treat heavy metal, xenobiotics, organic compounds and even radioactive substances. Phytoremediation treat pollutants by means of phytoaccumulation, phytodegradation, phytovolatilization, rhizodegradation, rhizofiltration, phytostabilization, phytoextraction etc. Plant uptake and bioaccumulate contaminants in their root, shoot and leaves which can be harvested for recycling and safe disposal of contaminants. Moreover, the rate of phytoremediation treatment is linked to factors such as plant selection, soil conditions, contaminant concentration, site-specific characteristics etc. Constructed Wetland System (CWS) is a plant-based treatment method which can be utilized for the treatment of domestic wastewater, sewage, industrial wastewater etc. Plant/s in CWS can be chosen as per the requirement to specifically target particular pollutants or a plethora of pollutants present in wastewater. Phytoremediation being environmentally benign, economic and effective in removal of pollutants can be employed for environmental pollution control and treatment. Advancement in the field can help to cover more diverse pollutant sites, enhance the understanding of plant microbe interactions, and optimize phytoremediation strategies to further expand its applications. With in-depth knowledge and application technology, phytoremediation can significantly restore and preserve contaminated ecosystems.