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Green technologies for soil remediation: a systematic review
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Soil pollution from things like heavy metals, oil residues, microplastics, and pesticides doesn't just hurt the environment, it can work its way into the food we grow and eat, potentially raising risks of cancer and other health problems. This review rounds up existing research on eco-friendly cleanup methods, like using special plants, charcoal-like soil additives, and natural minerals to soak up or break down these toxins without harsh chemicals. The takeaway: safer, greener ways to clean contaminated soil already exist and could help protect both farmland and the safety of our food supply.
Heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, microplastics, and pesticides exhibit mutagenic, carcinogenic, immunotoxic, and teratogenic properties, leading to significant changes in the soil’s physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics. This poses a substantial threat to overall ecosystem health. Consequently, addressing soil contamination requires the prompt adoption of sustainable physico-chemical and bio-based remediation approaches. This review provides a systematic analysis of current soil remediation methods that utilise green technologies. Particular attention is given to phytoremediation techniques, the use of soil conditioners such as biochar, hydrochar, and biopolymers, as well as the application of layered double hydroxides. The mechanisms by which these technologies mitigate pollutants such as heavy metals, organic contaminants, and nutrients are analysed, highlighting their role in enhancing soil health while minimising ecological impact. By integrating these green approaches, sustainable soil remediation can be achieved, supporting environmental restoration and agricultural productivity. This review offers valuable insights for researchers and policymakers in advancing eco-friendly soil rehabilitation strategies.
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Integrated Monitoring, Remediation and Management of Soil Pollution: A Comprehensive Review
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This research review summarizes the latest methods for finding, cleaning up, and managing polluted soil that can harm human health through contaminated food and water. The study highlights that newer pollutants like microplastics and "forever chemicals" (PFAS) are especially hard to remove from soil using traditional cleanup methods. The authors argue that we need better, combined approaches to monitor and clean up soil pollution to protect our food supply and health.
Applications and Countermeasures of Rapid Soil Pollution Detection Technologies in Agricultural Production
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This review paper looks at new fast-testing tools that can quickly check farmland soil for harmful contamination like heavy metals, chemical pollutants, and microplastics, instead of relying on slow, expensive lab tests. Catching soil pollution early matters because contaminated soil can lead to contaminated crops, meaning these quicker detection methods could help keep unsafe levels of toxins out of the food we eat. The paper doesn't introduce a new test itself, but summarizes existing technologies and points out where they still need improvement before they can be widely used on farms.
Integrated AI-Driven Assessment and Sustainable Remediation of Contaminated Soils: Innovations, Challenges and Future Directions
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Contaminated soil from farming, industry, and mining can carry harmful substances like heavy metals, PFAS "forever chemicals," and microplastics into our food and water, posing real risks to human health. This review paper explains how combining artificial intelligence with cleanup methods like using plants and microbes to absorb toxins could make identifying and removing these contaminants faster, cheaper, and less disruptive to soil health than traditional dig-and-dispose approaches. While promising, the authors note this smarter, tech-assisted approach to soil cleanup still faces hurdles like unclear regulations and the need for community buy-in
Biochar as a Climate-Smart Approach for Soil Health Improvement and Nano-/Microplastic Mitigation in Sustainable Agriculture: A Review
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Tiny plastic particles are building up in farm soils, potentially getting absorbed by crops we eat—but this review of existing research suggests that biochar (a charcoal-like material made from organic waste) can act like a sponge to trap these plastics in soil before they reach our food. It also improves soil quality and helps fight climate change, though scientists still need more research to understand its limits, especially in certain soil types.
Biochar and Organic Matter as Tools for Mitigating Microplastic Effects in Agricultural Soils.
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Plastic pollution in farm soil is a growing problem, but this study found that adding biochar (charcoal made from plant waste) or organic materials like compost and manure can help soils recover. These additions restored nutrients, improved soil structure, and boosted helpful microbes, offering a practical way to protect the soil that grows our food.
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