First Place Student Essay Phytoremediation of Contaminated Soils

Published in J. Nat. Resour. Life Sci. Educ. 33:51–53 (2004). http://www.JNRLSE.org © American Society of Agronomy 677 S. Segoe Rd., Madison, WI 53711 USA OVER THE PAST FEW DECADES, pollution has become a major threat to human and environmental health. Billions of acres of otherwise arable land lie uncultivated because of contaminants in the soil. However, remediation of contaminated land with conventional technologies is expensive as well as disruptive to the soil. Phytoremediation is an attractive alternative to remediate contaminated soil naturally and cost-effectively. This emerging technology uses green plants to remove organic pollutants, toxic heavy metals, or excess minerals from contaminated soil or water.