Phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soil using Ficus religiosa (L.)

Abstract

Intensity of toxic metal pollution in the biosphere has been increasing since the starting of industrial revolution, posing major environmental threats and human health problems. Controlled and uncontrolled disposal of waste, accidental and process spillage, mining and smelting metalliferous ores, application of sewage sludge to agricultural soil are responsible for the migration of contaminants into non-contaminated sites as dust or leachate and contribute towards contamination of our ecosystem. These contaminants include heavy metals, combustible and putrescible substances, hazardous waste, explosive and petroleum products which cover a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds. Out of all these contaminants heavy metals pose threats than organic contaminants to our ecosystem. Phytoremediation approaches to utilize a particular group of plants, known as hyper-accumulators, to extract and concentrate particular heavy metal elements from the environment. In this study heavy metal (Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd) uptakes from contaminated site of Yamuna River by Ficus religiosa plant, it is locally available hyperaccumulators, were assessed. It was observed that these plants accumulated these heavy metals in different parts of the plant from the contaminated site and were able to maintain a growth rate.