Author(s)

Eucharia Oluchi Nwaichi^1,2*, Om Parkash Dhankher²

¹University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
²University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA.

This review presents the justification of research into heavy metals and clean-up technologies with particular emphasis on phytoremediation of heavy metals contaminated soils. The generating sectors and heavy metal contaminant contributors are reviewed alongside likely types. The new paradigm by researchers in response to negative impacts of various clean-up methodologies has been discussed. This work reports limitations and prospects of phytoremediation in view of the future direction and reviewed issues with bioavaliability, mobility, and response by plants to heavy metals in their environment. It reviews various plants used in phytoremediation of heavy metals and level of success recorded by teeming researchers. Diverse options available for optimization of this relatively novel technique to enhance performance have been elaborated. Suggestions for responsible abandonment of emitting sites and facilities, safety issues and appropriate disposal and management methods for plants used in this technology have been documented.

Phytoremediation, Heavy Metals, Soil Contamination, Biosafety, Phytotoxicity

Nwaichi, E. and Dhankher, O. (2016) Heavy Metals Contaminated Environments and the Road Map with Phytoremediation. Journal of Environmental Protection, 7, 41-51. doi: 10.4236/jep.2016.71004.