title: How can we take advantage of halophyte properties to cope with heavy metal toxicity in salt-affected areas?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many areas throughout the world are simultaneously contaminated by high concentrations of soluble salts and by high concentrations of heavy metals that constitute a serious threat to human health. The use of plants to extract or stabilize pollutants is an interesting alternative to classical expensive decontamination procedures. However, suitable plant species still need to be identified for reclamation of substrates presenting a high electrical conductivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Halophytic plant species are able to cope with several abiotic constraints occurring simultaneously in their natural environment. This review considers their putative interest for remediation of polluted soil in relation to their ability to sequester absorbed toxic ions in trichomes or vacuoles, to perform efficient osmotic adjustment and to limit the deleterious impact of oxidative stress. These physiological adaptations are considered in relation to the impact of salt on heavy metal bioavailabilty in two types of ecosystem: (1) salt marshes and mangroves, and (2) mine tailings in semi-arid areas.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Numerous halophytes exhibit a high level of heavy metal accumulation and external NaCl may directly influence heavy metal speciation and absorption rate. Maintenance of biomass production and plant water status makes some halophytes promising candidates for further management of heavy-metal-polluted areas in both saline and non-saline environments.
authors: Groupe de Recherche en Physiologie végétale (GRPV) - Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy (ELI-A), Université catholique de Louvain, 4-5 (Bte 7.07.13) Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, France and Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic stanley.lutts@uclouvain.be.
authors: Stanley
authors: S
authors: Lutts
authors: Groupe de Recherche en Physiologie végétale (GRPV) - Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy (ELI-A), Université catholique de Louvain, 4-5 (Bte 7.07.13) Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, France and Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic Groupe de Recherche en Physiologie végétale (GRPV) - Earth and Life Institute - Agronomy (ELI-A), Université catholique de Louvain, 4-5 (Bte 7.07.13) Place Croix du Sud, 1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, France and Institute of Plant Molecular Biology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 31, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
authors: Isabelle
authors: I
authors: Lefèvre
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D003889:Desert Climate; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism*; D008906:Mining; D055051:Salt-Tolerant Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D053833:Wetlands
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D012965:Sodium Chloride
keywords: Antioxidants; ROS scavenging; glycinebetaine; halophytes; metal distribution; metallothioneins; mucilage; osmoprotectants; phytochelatins; phytoextraction; phytoremediation; phytostabilization; salt marsh species