phytoremediation

Phytoremediation is a method of treating pollutants or waste by using green plants. These plants can remove, degrade, or stabilize undesirable substances, such as toxic metals, from contaminated soil or groundwater.1

This process is a part of environmental engineering, where living organisms play a crucial role. For instance, certain plants, like alpine pennycress, are capable of extracting and accumulating significant amounts of heavy metals from the ground. These plants are often strategically planted in contaminated areas to help clean them up. Researchers are exploring phytoremediation as a cost-effective way to address man-made contamination at various industrial sites.21