Plants that remove contaminants from the environment

Abstract

The study of botany is important to the laboratory for several reasons. Every day, laboratorians perform assays of pharmaceuticals derived from plants and occasionally are consulted by emergency departments about tests for toxic plants. Laboratories also create hazardous wastes that new plant technologies are able to clean up, as discussed in this article. Although several technologies are available for the cleanup of soil, wastewater, and groundwater, they often are not adaptable for specific problems or are not cost-effective. Recent research has indicated that green plants can be a viable alternative. A new technology, and phytoremediation, uses green plants to dewater, remove inorganic contaminants such as heavy metals and radionuclides, and degrade organic contaminants as plants absorb nutrients with their roots. Evapotranspiration is exploited to reduce the volume of aqueous waste. Free-living microorganisms of the rhizosphere that surrounds the root system participate in the degradation of man-made organic contaminants. This technology is important to the laboratory, which for years has contributed to pollution through the use of organic toxins, such as xylene, and heavy metals, such as mercury and chromium. This article explores recent developments in this field. This is the first in a four-part series on botany. Other articles focus on traditional and modern plant medicines, and poisonous plants.