Phytoremediation Is a Potential Solution for Reducing Heavy Metals in Soil

Presenter: Nneoma F. Anaba

Faculty Sponsor: Sasha Adkins

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Geology and Earth Sciences

Session: Poster Session 5, 3:15 PM - 4:00 PM, 163, C15

ABSTRACT

Heavy metals such as lead and nickel can be found in low concentrations in the Earth’s soil. However, human activities such as leaded fuel from planes and industrial waste led to high levels of toxic metals entering the air and the water and settling in the soil. Toxic elements can cause severe health impacts if accumulated in the body at small or high doses, whether it is through inhalation, ingestion, or absorption. Phytoremediation may be a potential solution to reduce the concentrations of toxic metals in the soil without burning the soil or dredging it up and putting it in a new location that will harm the residents there. Phytoremediation is the process of growing particular plants that take in different kinds of heavy metals and reducing the concentration of those heavy metals in the soil. This experiment was conducted in Cicero, Illinois. Heavy metal concentrations from different soil samples were tested before. Phytoremediation plants (switchgrass and fox sedge) are planted in those areas for a duration. At intervals, soil samples are collected to analyze the heavy metal levels and collect data on any changes. There is a possibility that the plants may increase the level of heavy metals in the soil. However, this study will test the idea that phytoremediation decreases the high levels of toxic metals already seeped into the soil. If phytoremediation successfully decreases the levels of heavy metals in the soil, it could assist additional communities suffering from high concentrations of heavy metals in their soil.


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