IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i23p10587-d1535559.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Harnessing the Power of Plants: Innovative Approaches to Pollution Prevention and Mitigation

Author

Listed:
  • Wajid Zaman

    (Department of Life Sciences, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
    These authors contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.)

  • Sajid Ali

    (Department of Horticulture and Life Science, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea
    These authors contributed equally to this work and share first authorship.)

  • Muhammad Saeed Akhtar

    (Department of Chemistry, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan 38541, Republic of Korea)

Abstract

Innovative and sustainable environmental management strategies are urgently required to address the escalating global pollution crisis. Phytoremediation, which involves using plants to mitigate, remediate, or contain environmental contaminants, is a promising, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional remediation methods. This review summarizes current research to elucidate the multifaceted roles of plants in pollution mitigation, detailing mechanisms such as phytoextraction, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, and rhizofiltration; we highlight successful case studies that demonstrate practical applications across diverse environments, such as the use of hyperaccumulator plants for heavy metal removal and genetically engineered species for organic pollutant degradation. Furthermore, this review explores recent technological advancements that have enhanced the effectiveness of phytoremediation, such as the integration of nanotechnology and genetic engineering. It also analyzes the economic and social implications of adopting plant-based pollution control strategies, emphasizing their potential for community involvement and socioeconomic benefits. Despite the promising outlook, we acknowledge the inherent challenges and limitations of phytoremediation, including public acceptance and scalability issues. Finally, we identify key opportunities for future research and innovative approaches that could expand the scope and impact of phytotechnologies in pollution mitigation. This comprehensive review underscores the potential of plants as both agents of environmental restoration and essential components of sustainable pollution management systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Wajid Zaman & Sajid Ali & Muhammad Saeed Akhtar, 2024. "Harnessing the Power of Plants: Innovative Approaches to Pollution Prevention and Mitigation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10587-:d:1535559
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10587/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/23/10587/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maria Manzoor & Usman Rauf Kamboh & Sumaira Gulshan & Sven Tomforde & Iram Gul & Alighazi Siddiqui & Muhammad Arshad, 2023. "Optimizing Sustainable Phytoextraction of Lead from Contaminated Soil Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-17, July.
    2. Anna Occhipinti-Ambrogi, 2021. "Biopollution by Invasive Marine Non-Indigenous Species: A Review of Potential Adverse Ecological Effects in a Changing Climate," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-20, April.
    3. Sang-Hwan Lee & Hyun Park & Jeong-Gyu Kim, 2023. "Current Status of and Challenges for Phytoremediation as a Sustainable Environmental Management Plan for Abandoned Mine Areas in Korea," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Emanuela D. Tiodar & Cristina L. Văcar & Dorina Podar, 2021. "Phytoremediation and Microorganisms-Assisted Phytoremediation of Mercury-Contaminated Soils: Challenges and Perspectives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-37, March.
    5. Robert Ato Newton & Valentina Pidlisnyuk & Eliška Wildová & Ludmila Nováková & Josef Trögl, 2023. "State of Brownfields in the Northern Bohemia, Saxony and Lower Silesian Regions and Prospects for Regeneration by Utilization of the Phytotechnology with the Second Generation Crops," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-28, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Merica Slišković & Katja Božić & Jelena Žanić Mikuličić & Ines Kolanović, 2024. "Addressing the Significance of the Union List with a Focus on Marine Invasive Alien Species Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-25, October.
    2. Gerasimos Kondylatos & Georgios Vagenas & Konstantinos Kalaentzis & Dimitris Mavrouleas & Alexios Conides & Paraskevi K. Karachle & Maria Corsini-Foka & Dimitris Klaoudatos, 2023. "Exploring the Structure of Static Net Fisheries in a Highly Invaded Region: The Case of Rhodes Island (Eastern Mediterranean)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-28, October.
    3. Yu Lin & Zhiqiang Chen & Weiye Li & Zhibiao Chen, 2024. "Effects of Clipping Intensity on the Physiology of Dicranopteris pedata and Its Interroot Soil in the Rare-Earth-Mining Area in Southern China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Chenxu Zhang & Jiamei Wu & Jian Cao, 2023. "Combined Remediation towards Cadmium–Arsenic-Contaminated Soil via Phytoremediation and Stabilization," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-17, September.
    5. Henrieta Pavolová & Tomáš Bakalár & Mário Molokáč, 2024. "Management of Mining Brownfields for Support of Regional Tourism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-17, September.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:23:p:10587-:d:1535559. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.