Toxic metal decontamination by phytoremediation approach: Concept, challenges, opportunities and future perspectives

The contamination of agricultural soils with toxic metals is of major environmental anxiety and noteworthy hazard to natural life on the earth. Heavy metals affect the physico chemical properties of soil, yield and biomass of crops. Since toxic metals are non-decomposable and accumulated in the natural environment and subsequently enter into the food chain. The, remediation of toxic metals from contaminated soil is of challenging task for researchers. Several traditional methods have been used to alleviate the toxicity of metals but these techniques are expensive. In contrast, phytoremediation is now recognized as an appropriate green techniques in which plants and associated soil microbes are used to lessen the concentrations of toxic metals in contaminated sites. The roots of the plants stabilize the contaminated soil and inhibits the mobilization of toxic metals. The phytoremediation is done in place, saving transportation and offsite processing costs. The success of phytoremediation depends upon the site, selection of plant species and availability of toxic metals for uptake. It is a cost effective plants based method for alleviation of mainly toxic metals and organic pollutants. This article thoroughly discuss the challenges, opportunities and future perspectives in phytoremediation of toxic metals from contaminated sites. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.