A Review on Heavy Metals Contamination in Water and Soil: Effects, Sources and Phytoremediation Techniques

Abstract

Heavy metals are natural compounded elements occurring in the environment and different in concentrations along the earth crust. Source of these elements in water and soils mainly include natural occurrence derived from parent materials and anthropogenic activities. Pollution by heavy metals is still a serious problem due to their toxicity and ability to accumulate in the biota, and causes various health problems in humans and animals. This paper discussed the effects and sources of heavy metals as well as phytoremediation techniques. Phytoremediation techniques or strategies seem to be a prosperous way to remediate heavy metals-contaminated environment (water, soil air and others. It has some advantage compared with other used or available physical and chemical process or conventional strategies. There are several factors that must be considered in order achieved a high performance of remediation result, and the most crucial factors is a suitable plant species which can be used to uptake the contaminant. Although, phytoremediation techniques seems to be the most efficient, but it has some limitations.