Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals in Tropical Soils an Overview

Beatriz E. Guerra Sierra, Jaider Muñoz Guerrero and Serge Sokolski
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Beatriz E. Guerra Sierra: Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroambiente y Salud-Microbiota, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Santander, 680002 Bucaramanga, Colombia
Jaider Muñoz Guerrero: Grupo de Investigación en Biotecnología Agroambiente y Salud-Microbiota, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Naturales y Agropecuarias, Universidad de Santander, 680002 Bucaramanga, Colombia
Serge Sokolski: Independent Researcher, Québec, QC G1S2C4, Canada

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-24

Abstract: The geomorphological characteristics of the materials inherent in tropical soils, in addition to the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides, industrial waste and residues, and novel pollutants derived from emerging new technologies such as nanomaterials, affect the functionality and resilience of the soil-microorganism-plant ecosystem; impacting phytoremediation processes and increasing the risk of heavy metal transfer into the food chain. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of phytoremediation in tropical soils, placing special emphasis on the factors that affect this process, such as nanoagrochemicals, and highlighting the value of biodiversity among plant species that have the potential to grow and develop in soils impacted by heavy metals, as a useful resource upon which to base further research.

Keywords: emerging contaminants; heavy metals; nanoagrochemicals; plants to phytoremediation; tropical soil (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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