title: Cost-benefit calculation of phytoremediation technology for heavy-metal-contaminated soil.
abstract: Heavy-metal pollution of soil is a serious issue worldwide, particularly in China. Soil remediation is one of the most difficult management issues for municipal and state agencies because of its high cost. A two-year phytoremediation project for soil contaminated with arsenic, cadmium, and lead was implemented to determine the essential parameters for soil remediation. Results showed highly efficient heavy metal removal. Costs and benefits of this project were calculated. The total cost of phytoremediation was US$75,375.2/hm(2) or US$37.7/m(3), with initial capital and operational costs accounting for 46.02% and 53.98%, respectively. The costs of infrastructures (i.e., roads, bridges, and culverts) and fertilizer were the highest, mainly because of slow economic development and serious contamination. The cost of phytoremediation was lower than the reported values of other remediation technologies. Improving the mechanization level of phytoremediation and accurately predicting or preventing unforeseen situations were suggested for further cost reduction. Considering the loss caused by environmental pollution, the benefits of phytoremediation will offset the project costs in less than seven years.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. Electronic address: leim@igsnrr.ac.cn.
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lei
authors.affiliation: Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
authors.forename: Tongbin
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000032:analysis*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002681:China; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D001151:Arsenic
keywords: Benefit; Cost; Heavy metals; Phytoremediation; Pteris vittata L.