Phytoremediation of contaminated soils: Current trends and future prospects

Soil contamination from industrial waste, heavy metals, pesticides, and urban runoff is a serious issue affecting agricultural production and human health, as well as harming the environment worldwide. Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly, cost-effective technique for the remediation of contaminated soils that has received much attention for removing or detoxifying hazardous materials from soil. The present review looks at important phytoremediation processes, namely phytoextraction, phytostabilization, rhizofiltration and phytovolatilization with their applications towards removal or stabilization of heavy metals (e.g., lead, cadmium arsenic) and organic pollutants (e.g., pesticides hydrocarbons). Recently, several exciting developments in this area, including hyperaccumulator plants, microbial partnering strategies, genetic engineering, and nanoparticle approaches, have proven to be valuable methods that work reasonably well. However, there are still challenges to be addressed, such as slow remediation rates, regional restrictions, and the safest method for disposing of contaminated biomass. The potential integration of bioenergy crops, the use of biochar and humic substances, and the promotion of policy formation, especially on a large scale, need to be considered in future phytoremediation research. Phytoremediation provides a promising and inexpensive option for the remediation of polluted soils and the restoration of environmental stability.