Current Trends and Impending Advances in Plant Assisted Remediation of Heavy Metals

Heavy metal pollution posed a severe threat to human health which subsequently affects the entire ecosystem. The presence and persistence of those toxic metals in the environment lead to the development of several remediation techniques. Conventional remediation techniques used include physical and chemical methods which are expensive and sometimes demand the expertise of highly trained personnel. Identifying a suitable way to remove heavy metals from the contaminated site is therefore, the dare needs. Among the recently identified safest, most innovative and environmental-friendly techniques for the remediation of heavy metals is phytoremediation. Many researchers explored the use of plants, especially those identified to accumulate high amount of metals. This review highlights the current and future developments in the application of phytoremediation technologies, including the use of molecular genetic engineering to modify various plants traits of interest. Manipulation of these traits could enhance phytoremediation ability of plants such as multiple metal accumulations, increasing biomass and tolerance as well as detoxification and transformation rates. Furthermore, the concerns about the potential transfer of contaminants through the food chains and the proper disposal of the biomass could be address by the process of metal recovery of commercial value called “Phytomining”. Adequate application of profitable phytomining technique may increase acceptability and market value of phytoremediation in the future.