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Evaluation on the Biological Aspect of Plant, Contaminant Types and Application of Phytoremediation for Environmental and Economical Sustainability
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This review assessed how different types of plants can be used to clean up environmental contaminants, including microplastics, from soil, water, and sediments. Researchers found that various plant species can effectively remove or stabilize pollutants through natural biological processes, and that newer technologies like genetic engineering and nanotechnology can further enhance these capabilities. The study suggests that plant-based remediation offers a cost-effective and environmentally friendly approach to addressing pollution while also supporting carbon sequestration and soil health.
Phytoremediation is an emerging, eco-efficient strategy that employs higher plants and their associated rhizosphere microorganisms to remove, stabilize, degrade, or volatilize contaminants from soil, water, and sediments. This review systematically assesses the phytoremediation potential of hyperaccumulators, grasses, woody trees, aquatic plants, and food crops against heavy metals (Pb, Cd, As, Cr, Ni, Zn), organic pollutants (PAHs, PCBs, pesticides), radionuclides, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, and nutrient-induced eutrophication. It explains key physiological and molecular processes including metal uptake via ZIP and HMA transporters, detoxification through phytochelatins, metallothioneins, vacuolar sequestration, root exudate-mediated mobilization, and microbial degradation. Technological advances such as CRISPR/Cas-based genetic modification, nano-enabled phytoremediation, synthetic plant–microbiome consortia, remote sensing, GIS-driven monitoring, and phytomining for metal recovery are emphasized. Field-based applications in mining zones, agricultural soils, wetlands, oil-spill areas, and industrial sites demonstrate significant remediation efficiency and ecological restoration. Phytoremediation supports carbon sequestration, soil fertility improvement, biodiversity enhancement, erosion control, and climate mitigation, linking it to broader sustainability goals. Although challenges persist, including slow remediation rate, pollutant toxicity to plants, biomass disposal, seasonal variability, lack of awareness, and limited policy incentives, economic assessments indicate phytoremediation is 5–10 times more cost-effective than conventional technologies. Future priorities involve deploying climate-resilient species, conducting long-term field trials, promoting circular economy-based biomass utilization, integrating phytoremediation with agroforestry, digital monitoring, and fostering interdisciplinary and international collaborations. Overall, phytoremediation represents a scalable, low-cost, and environmentally harmonious solution for global environmental restoration and sustainable development.
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Phytoremediation of Microplastics: A Perspective on Its Practicality
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This review examines whether plants can be used to clean up microplastic pollution from soil and water through a process called phytoremediation. Researchers found that certain plant species can intercept, absorb, and temporarily store microplastics in their root systems. However, the approach faces practical limitations including slow uptake rates and uncertainty about long-term effectiveness, meaning it works best as one tool among several for addressing microplastic contamination.
The power of green: Harnessing phytoremediation to combat micro/nanoplastics
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This review explores how plants and plant-based systems can be used to capture and remove micro- and nanoplastics from contaminated soil and water environments. Researchers found that certain plant species can absorb, trap, or break down plastic particles through their root systems and associated microorganisms. The study suggests that phytoremediation, or using plants to clean up pollution, could become a scalable and environmentally friendly strategy for tackling plastic contamination.
Microplastic pollution: Phytotoxicity, environmental risks, and phytoremediation strategies
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This review examines how microplastics harm plants through oxidative stress, interference with photosynthesis, and DNA damage, and explores whether plants could be used to clean up microplastic pollution. Plants can absorb tiny microplastics through their roots and leaves, and the plastics accumulate along the food chain, making health risk assessment difficult. The authors discuss phytoremediation strategies where specific plants could help remove microplastics from contaminated soil.
Decontamination of pollutants present in water, air, and soil through phytoremediation: a critical review
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This critical review examines phytoremediation — the use of plants to remove contaminants from soil, water, and air — covering mechanisms such as phytoextraction, phytodegradation, and rhizofiltration, and assessing their effectiveness for heavy metals, organic pollutants, and microplastics.
Phytoremediation for water quality improvement: current advances and future prospects
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This review examines recent advances in phytoremediation, the use of plants to remove contaminants including microplastics from polluted water. Researchers highlight how emerging technologies like nanotechnology, microbial partnerships, and genetic engineering tools such as CRISPR are being integrated to improve plant-based cleanup efficiency. The study notes that while results from controlled studies are promising, significant challenges remain in scaling these approaches to real-world applications.
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