Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and Sustainability
Starting from the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century to date, urban areas have faced increasing environmental challenges due to the diffusion of harmful substances, resulting from vehicular traffic, the activities of different industries, waste, and building construction, etc. These pollutant...
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MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Plants |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2057 |
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| author | Luca Di Stasio Annamaria Gentile Dario Nicola Tangredi Paolo Piccolo Gianmaria Oliva Giovanni Vigliotta Angela Cicatelli Francesco Guarino Werther Guidi Nissim Massimo Labra Stefano Castiglione |
| author_facet | Luca Di Stasio Annamaria Gentile Dario Nicola Tangredi Paolo Piccolo Gianmaria Oliva Giovanni Vigliotta Angela Cicatelli Francesco Guarino Werther Guidi Nissim Massimo Labra Stefano Castiglione |
| author_sort | Luca Di Stasio |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Starting from the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century to date, urban areas have faced increasing environmental challenges due to the diffusion of harmful substances, resulting from vehicular traffic, the activities of different industries, waste, and building construction, etc. These pollutants are dangerous, since they pose a threat to both the environment and human health. Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and low-cost technique that uses plants and their associated microorganisms to clean-up contaminated sites. In this review, we explore its main applications in urban settings. Specifically, we investigate how phytoremediation works, highlighting the most effective plants for its success in a city context. Moreover, we also describe the main factors influencing its effectiveness, such as soil, climate, and pollutants. In this regard, several case studies, conducted worldwide, have reported on how phytoremediation can successfully reclaim contaminated areas, transforming them into reusable city green spaces, with reduced costs compared to traditional remediation techniques (e.g., soil replacement, soil washing, etc.). Moreover, by integrating it into urban planning, cities can address environmental pollution, while promoting biodiversity, enhancing the landscape, and increasing its social acceptance. This nature-based solution offers a practical path toward more sustainable and resilient urban environments, especially in regard to the climate change framework. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7612861a9ace42c7a26d7e564e5f862d |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2223-7747 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Plants |
| spelling | doaj-art-7612861a9ace42c7a26d7e564e5f862d2025-08-20T02:36:23ZengMDPI AGPlants2223-77472025-07-011413205710.3390/plants14132057Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and SustainabilityLuca Di Stasio0Annamaria Gentile1Dario Nicola Tangredi2Paolo Piccolo3Gianmaria Oliva4Giovanni Vigliotta5Angela Cicatelli6Francesco Guarino7Werther Guidi Nissim8Massimo Labra9Stefano Castiglione10Department of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyNBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, PA, ItalyNBFC, National Biodiversity Future Center, 90133 Palermo, PA, ItalyDepartment of Chemistry and Biology “A. Zambelli”, University of Salerno, 84084 Fisciano, SA, ItalyStarting from the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century to date, urban areas have faced increasing environmental challenges due to the diffusion of harmful substances, resulting from vehicular traffic, the activities of different industries, waste, and building construction, etc. These pollutants are dangerous, since they pose a threat to both the environment and human health. Phytoremediation is an environmentally friendly and low-cost technique that uses plants and their associated microorganisms to clean-up contaminated sites. In this review, we explore its main applications in urban settings. Specifically, we investigate how phytoremediation works, highlighting the most effective plants for its success in a city context. Moreover, we also describe the main factors influencing its effectiveness, such as soil, climate, and pollutants. In this regard, several case studies, conducted worldwide, have reported on how phytoremediation can successfully reclaim contaminated areas, transforming them into reusable city green spaces, with reduced costs compared to traditional remediation techniques (e.g., soil replacement, soil washing, etc.). Moreover, by integrating it into urban planning, cities can address environmental pollution, while promoting biodiversity, enhancing the landscape, and increasing its social acceptance. This nature-based solution offers a practical path toward more sustainable and resilient urban environments, especially in regard to the climate change framework.https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2057urban brownfieldsemerging pollutantsorganics and inorganicsurban sustainabilityphytotechnologies |
| spellingShingle | Luca Di Stasio Annamaria Gentile Dario Nicola Tangredi Paolo Piccolo Gianmaria Oliva Giovanni Vigliotta Angela Cicatelli Francesco Guarino Werther Guidi Nissim Massimo Labra Stefano Castiglione Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and Sustainability Plants urban brownfields emerging pollutants organics and inorganics urban sustainability phytotechnologies |
| title | Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and Sustainability |
| title_full | Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and Sustainability |
| title_fullStr | Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and Sustainability |
| title_full_unstemmed | Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and Sustainability |
| title_short | Urban Phytoremediation: A Nature-Based Solution for Environmental Reclamation and Sustainability |
| title_sort | urban phytoremediation a nature based solution for environmental reclamation and sustainability |
| topic | urban brownfields emerging pollutants organics and inorganics urban sustainability phytotechnologies |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2223-7747/14/13/2057 |
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