Phytoremediation of Heavy Metals by Vetiver Grass near Riverbeds

Aquatic environments worldwide are increasingly contaminated by a diverse array of physical, chemical, biological, and radiological pollutants, with heavy metals being a major concern. Heavy metal presence in aquatic ecosystems can lead to adverse effects on population density, diversity, community structure, and species composition. Phytoremediation, a method involving the use of green plants to remove or absorb pollutants from various environmental matrices, has gained prominence in addressing this issue. Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides), a species native to India, has emerged as a promising candidate for phytoremediation due to its effectiveness and cost-efficiency. This study explores the potential of vetiver grass in water and soil systems for the removal of heavy metals, offering an eco-friendly and sustainable solution for mitigating metal contamination in aquatic environments.