Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis

A critical meta-analysis of the past decade’s investigations was carried out with the aim of assessing the use of plant-based techniques for soil remediation. Potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminated soils were selected since these contaminants are considered hazardous and have long-term effects...

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Main Authors: Evangelia E. Golia, Edoardo Barbieri, Sotiria G. Papadimou, Dimitrios Alexiadis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Toxics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/914
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author Evangelia E. Golia
Edoardo Barbieri
Sotiria G. Papadimou
Dimitrios Alexiadis
author_facet Evangelia E. Golia
Edoardo Barbieri
Sotiria G. Papadimou
Dimitrios Alexiadis
author_sort Evangelia E. Golia
collection DOAJ
description A critical meta-analysis of the past decade’s investigations was carried out with the aim of assessing the use of plant-based techniques for soil remediation. Potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminated soils were selected since these contaminants are considered hazardous and have long-term effects. Furthermore, energy, aromatic, and medicinal plants were studied as their high-value products seem to be affected by PTEs’ existence. Lead (Pb), Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, Hg, and As accumulation in different parts of plant species has been investigated using proper indices. Aromatic plants seem to provide high phytoremediation yields. Increasing toxicity levels and the coexistence of many metals enhance the accumulation capacity of aromatic plants, even of toxic Cd. In plants usable as energy sources, antagonistic effects were observed, as the simultaneous presence of Cu and Cd resulted in lower thermic capacity. Finally, in most of the plants studied, it was observed that the phytostabilization technique, i.e., the accumulation of metals mainly in the roots of the plants, was often used, allowing for the aboveground part to be almost completely free of metallic pollutants. Using plants for remediation was proven to be advantageous within a circular economy model. Such a process is a promising solution, both economically and environmentally, since it provides a useful tool for keeping environmental balance and producing safe goods.
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spelling doaj-art-8ab79f423c4f483891042e6fd16ef5952025-08-20T02:01:24ZengMDPI AGToxics2305-63042024-12-01121291410.3390/toxics12120914Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-AnalysisEvangelia E. Golia0Edoardo Barbieri1Sotiria G. Papadimou2Dimitrios Alexiadis3Soil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceSoil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceSoil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceSoil Science Laboratory, School of Agriculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, GreeceA critical meta-analysis of the past decade’s investigations was carried out with the aim of assessing the use of plant-based techniques for soil remediation. Potentially toxic element (PTE) contaminated soils were selected since these contaminants are considered hazardous and have long-term effects. Furthermore, energy, aromatic, and medicinal plants were studied as their high-value products seem to be affected by PTEs’ existence. Lead (Pb), Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr, Co, Ni, Hg, and As accumulation in different parts of plant species has been investigated using proper indices. Aromatic plants seem to provide high phytoremediation yields. Increasing toxicity levels and the coexistence of many metals enhance the accumulation capacity of aromatic plants, even of toxic Cd. In plants usable as energy sources, antagonistic effects were observed, as the simultaneous presence of Cu and Cd resulted in lower thermic capacity. Finally, in most of the plants studied, it was observed that the phytostabilization technique, i.e., the accumulation of metals mainly in the roots of the plants, was often used, allowing for the aboveground part to be almost completely free of metallic pollutants. Using plants for remediation was proven to be advantageous within a circular economy model. Such a process is a promising solution, both economically and environmentally, since it provides a useful tool for keeping environmental balance and producing safe goods.https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/914soil remediationheavy-metal-polluted soilsphytostabilizationlow-cost materialseco-friendly methods
spellingShingle Evangelia E. Golia
Edoardo Barbieri
Sotiria G. Papadimou
Dimitrios Alexiadis
Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis
Toxics
soil remediation
heavy-metal-polluted soils
phytostabilization
low-cost materials
eco-friendly methods
title Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis
title_full Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis
title_fullStr Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis
title_full_unstemmed Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis
title_short Energy, Aromatic, and Medicinal Plants’ Potential and Prospects for the Remediation of Potentially Toxic Element-Contaminated Agricultural Soils: A Critical Meta-Analysis
title_sort energy aromatic and medicinal plants potential and prospects for the remediation of potentially toxic element contaminated agricultural soils a critical meta analysis
topic soil remediation
heavy-metal-polluted soils
phytostabilization
low-cost materials
eco-friendly methods
url https://www.mdpi.com/2305-6304/12/12/914
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