Environmental pollution

Bioremediation of various waste waters is a new technology that has undergone a lot of deep investigation in recent decades. With growing population, advanced agricultural practices, industrialization, urbanization and multiple use of water has increased the demand for water around the globe. Due to daily human activity and also various agricultural and industrial operations, wastewater is produced in huge quantity. Due to lack of proper management and treatment facilities most of the urban wastewater generated in Indian cities is discharged into natural aquatic environments without any proper treatment. Municipal sewage problems are more complex as the volume of the wastewater is large and it also requires large area for treatment. Several techniques have been recommended for effective wastewater treatment but among all of them bioremediation is the most effective management tool to control the environmental pollution and to improve the contaminated sites.

Today we are facing several environmental problems including the pollution occur by heavy metals present in soil and water. The present remediation technique of heavy metal removal from contaminated soil is being more cost-effective and fewer side effects than physical and chemical approaches. It has gained attention from scientist as increasing popularity in both academic and practical circles. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology for cleaning up contaminated sites, with several advantages and long term applicability. More than 450 plant species have been identified to have potential for soil and water remediation. The technology involves efficient use of plants for the removal of heavy metals, detoxify or immobilize environmental contaminants in a growth matrix (soil, water or sediments) through the natural, biological, chemical or physical activities or processes of the plants. A brief review on phytoremediation of heavy metals and its effect on plants have been provided for a wide applicability of phytoremediation.