title: Challenges and opportunities in the phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils: A review.
abstract: Mining operations, industrial production and domestic and agricultural use of metal and metal containing compound have resulted in the release of toxic metals into the environment. Metal pollution has serious implications for the human health and the environment. Few heavy metals are toxic and lethal in trace concentrations and can be teratogenic, mutagenic, endocrine disruptors while others can cause behavioral and neurological disorders among infants and children. Therefore, remediation of heavy metals contaminated soil could be the only effective option to reduce the negative effects on ecosystem health. Thus, keeping in view the above facts, an attempt has been made in this article to review the current status, challenges and opportunities in the phytoremediation for remediating heavy metals from contaminated soils. The prime focus is given to phytoextraction and phytostabilization as the most promising and alternative methods for soil reclamation.
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Centre for Environmental Sciences, University of Sindh, Jamshoro 76080, Pakistan.
authors.forename: Amanullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mahar
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Amjad
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Department of Biotechnology, Amicable Knowledge Solution University, Satna, India.
authors.forename: Mukesh Kumar
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Awasthi
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Altaf Hussain
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Lahori
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Quan
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China.
authors.forename: Ronghua
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Natural Resources & Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. Electronic address: zhangzq58@126.com.
authors.forename: Zengqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D010944:Plants / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants
keywords: Agromining; Metals contamination; Phytoextraction; Soil reclamation