Phytoremediation: Management of Environmental Contaminants, Volume 7

Industrialization and human activities have led to the accumulation of large amounts of contaminants in the environment, affecting human health worldwide. Phytoremediation is a new technology that uses plants and their associated microbiome to remove, degrade, or render contaminants harmless. It is a simple, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and fast-emerging solution for environmental detoxification. Phytoremediation techniques utilize the unique uptake capabilities of plant root and shoot systems, effective translocation, bioaccumulation, and contaminant degradation capabilities of accumulator plants. This book provides valuable information on phytoremediation and nano-phytoremediation, serving as a foundation for developing new applications to remediate contaminated ecosystems.

Format: Hardback
Length: 609 pages
Publication date: 14 February 2023
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

The environment faces a significant challenge due to the accumulation of large quantities of contaminants resulting from industrialization and various human activities. These contaminants have a profound impact on human health on a global scale. Among the various types of environmental contaminants, organic, inorganic, and radioactive substances are the most prevalent. Remediating these contaminants from soils and sediments is a complex and challenging task. The toxic nature of these substances has led to the development of effective techniques to assess their presence and mobility in air, water, and soil. Furthermore, the increasing concentration of toxic pollutants in the environment poses a severe threat to plant, animal, human, and environmental health.

To address this issue, numerous technologies have been employed to clean and eliminate hazardous contaminants from the environment. However, these technologies can be costly, labor-intensive, and sometimes distressing to the public. In recent years, phytoremediation has emerged as a promising and cost-effective solution for removing toxic contaminants from diverse environments.

Phytoremediation refers to the natural ability of certain plants and their associated microbiomes, including hyper-accumulators or bio-accumulators, to remove, degrade, or render contaminants harmless. Through this technique, certain plant species thrive by accumulating contaminants present in the environment. The unique and selective uptake capabilities of plant root and shoot systems, effective translocation, bioaccumulation, and contaminant degradation capabilities of the accumulator plants are utilized in phytoremediation techniques.

Phytotechnologies involving the use of plants for contaminant removal have gained increasing importance over the past two decades. Phytoremediation technology has also become an effective tool in this field.

In conclusion, the accumulation of large amounts of contaminants in the environment is a pressing concern. Phytoremediation offers a simple, cost-effective, environmentally friendly, and fast-emerging solution for removing toxic contaminants from various environments. By harnessing the natural abilities of plants and their associated microbiomes, phytoremediation provides a promising avenue for improving environmental quality and promoting sustainable development.

Weight: 1118g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031179877
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023