Phytoremediation: Strategies of Argentinean Plants Against Stress by Heavy Metals

Abstract

Environmental pollution by organic and inorganic contaminants is an increasing global problem, but mostly affects both poor and developing countries. The effects of environmental pollution on biota and human health are reaching intolerable limits, so urgent actions are required to address their remediation before it is too late to generate a less polluted world and better life quality to next generations. In Argentina the environmental pollution has already been installed in regions once considered non-contaminated sites such as the Andean mountain range and fertile plains (Pampas). For a long time several Argentinean laboratories are working on phytoremediation technologies to clean polluted soils and water bodies. However, most of these studies are carried out at small-scale under laboratory conditions and/or in small-sized confined environments. In fact to date no more than one full-scale experiment has been carried out to decontaminate sewage and industrial effluents from a metallurgical factory. Strikingly, most studies have focused on a few toxic heavy metals, i.e., chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), manganese (Mn), and nickel (Ni), but ongoing investigations have not considered the most widespread of all: arsenic (As). It affects more than half of the Argentine territory, including large areas of the Chaco-Pampean plains and also numerous rivers that provide water for both human and animal consumption, as well as for crop irrigation. Studies on phytoremediation of organic pollutants are less developed.