Promising Technologies for Cd-Contaminated Soils: Drawbacks and Possibilities

Soil contamination caused by Cd (Cadmium) is a serious problem worldwide which is broadly distributed contaminant in the soil ecosystem. Refining plants, sewage sludge, manure application, mine tailings and use of phosphate fertilizer have led to an increase of Cd concentration in soil. Cd-contaminated soils are perceived as great threat to public health in many counties. This article critically reviewed the current state of phytoextraxtion applied for Cd contaminated soils and specifically discussed various enhancements factors for Cd phytoextraction considered as ecologically efficient approach for Cd clean up. This article presents an analysis mainly based on the results of different pot experiments and field trials aimed to remediate Cd-contaminated soils using different herbaceous and tree species for Cd contaminated soils in the recent years. The promising results of field experiments have laid the foundation for Cd phytoextraction into feasible application to cleanup moderate Cd contaminated soils in Asia and Europe, however this approach has not achieved ecological sustainability to execute on large-scale area due to week adaptation in wild environmental conditions. The integrated approach that employs a combination of Cd hyperaccumulator plants, soil amendments, chelating agents and soil microorganism may be used to remediate Cd contaminated soils, with the aim of securing methods that are economically and technologically feasible.