| Abstract: | Phytoremediation is a new technology that uses specially selected metal-accumulating plants as an attractive and economical method to clean up soils contaminated with heavy metals and radionuclides. The integration of specially selected metal-accumulating crop plants (Brassica juncea (L) Czern.) with innovative soil amendments allows plants to achieve high biomass and metal accumulation rates. In a recent study conducted at a lead-contaminated site in Trenton, New Jersey, the soil was treated with phytoremediation using successive crops of B. juncea combined with soil amendments. Through phytoremediation, the average surface soil lead concentration was reduced by 13 percent. In addition, the target soil concentration of 400 mg/kg was achieved in approximately 72 percent of the treated area in one cropping season. |
