Phytoremediation of heavy metals polluted environments

The rapid industrial development and agricultural growth and the indiscriminate production of pollutants have faced problems for human societies and the environment. Accumulation and pollution of heavy metals in the environment are the main important problems that as a result of human activities through extraction from ore and processing for various applications has led to the release of these elements in the environment. Heavy metals are non-biodegradable, so they could accumulate in the environment and subsequently contaminate the food chain. Some heavy metals are known as carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and mutagens, and this is a serious threat for human health. Therefore, today, the removal of heavy metal pollutions from the environment has been received special attention by researchers. In the application of physicochemical methods for this purpose, there will be serious limitations such as the need for chemical substances, high cost, the need for specialized equipment and skills, changes in soil characteristics, and disruption of native soil microflora. In contrast, phytoremediation is a better solution to the problem. The use of plants and natural soil microbes to reduce the concentration or toxic effects of pollutants in the environment is called phytoremediation. It is considered as a cost-effective, efficient, new, environmentally friendly and highly adoptable technology. New efficient metal superaccumulator plants are being investigated for applications in phytoremediation and plant extraction. This review article comprehensively discusses the background, concepts, processes and mechanisms in plant remediation of heavy metals.