Removal of Toxic Chemicals from Air Through Phytoremediation

As a result of the increased population together with various anthropogenic activities, such as agriculture, swift urbanization and industrialization, and transportation, the ambient air quality has severely deteriorated with the presence of several undesirable and unwanted substances like heavy metals (HMs) and metalloids, radionuclides, organic and inorganic compounds, agrochemicals, and oil spills. The exposure of humans to these pollutants not only leads to significant health impairments but is one of the major causes of death globally. Therefore, remediation of the air pollutants to maintain the ecosystem processes and functions together with uplifting human health and well-being is one such crucial problem confronting mankind today. Taking into account all these facets, the technology of phytoremediation, which is not only cost-effective but also a plant-based, eco-friendly, radiant energy-driven cleanup technique, requiring little maintenance and simultaneously an esthetically appealing alternative. Therefore, it seems to be an optimistic solution for the remediation of air pollutants. This method captures the comprehensive gas exchange process of the plant–soil–microbe system with the surrounding air or mechanical screening or phytofiltration to curb the problem of air pollution. The ability of each plant species to absorb and adsorb pollutants through the surfaces of their leaves varies, though, and is also influenced by a variety of physiological, morphological, and biochemical traits. Since, the plants help in remediation by allowing the absorption and adsorption of pollutants present in the air, the problem of air pollution can be controled by large-scale plantations. Hence, scientific selection of plant varieties that are effective in air pollution diminution can aid significantly in fighting this menace and safeguarding humanity and the environment.