Potentially toxic elements and phytoremediation: Opportunities and challenges

Abstract Through the extraction of resources and anthropogenic activities, heavy metals or potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), lead (Pb), and mercury (Hg) have entered the environment. The mobilization of these PTEs through anthropogenic activity has badly contaminated the environment. Since these PTEs are nonbiodegradable, they accumulate by entering the food chain and eventually contaminate it. These phenomena pose serious threats to the protection of agriculture and the health of organisms in the environment. Some are mutagenic, endocrine disruptors, carcinogenic and teratogenic, whereas others trigger changes in neurology and behavior. Because of these negative effects, due consideration is also required for the remediation of PTE-contaminated sites. Extreme constraints such as high costs, labor requirements, soil resource modification, and soil native microflora destruction have an impact on various chemical and physical methods used for this purpose. Phytoremediation is a safer approach to the problem when compared to physical and chemical methods of remediation. The use of plants in polluted sites and media to reduce toxicants is a relatively recent technology and is considered cost-effective, novel, eco-friendly, and solar-driven technology with strong public approval. This chapter allows readers to get cost-effective ideas about the occurrence of PTEs, their sources, and their removal techniques with future recommendations.