Enhancing Urban Sustainability Through Heavy Metal Extraction: Mechanisms, Challenges, and Environmental Impact

Urban sustainability is paramount for developing cities to demonstrate environmental stewardship, social equity, economic robustness, and resilience in emerging challenges. Rapid urbanization, industrial expansion, and intensified agricultural practices driven by growing populations have significantly escalated the risk of heavy metal contamination, posing grave environmental and public health threats. The unchecked discharge of toxic heavy metals like lead, mercury, cadmium, and arsenic imperils urban sustainability by their pervasive presence. These metals can induce toxicity in humans and wildlife, even at minimal concentrations. Phytoremediation emerges as a promising solution to counteract this menace. This eco-friendly approach harnesses the natural capabilities of plants to extract and accumulate heavy metals from their surroundings. In contrast to conventional methods, which often exacerbate environmental degradation, phytoremediation offers a sustainable alternative by leveraging plants’ inherent mechanisms for metal extraction. This chapter delves into the intricate processes through which plants facilitate the remediation of heavy metal contamination in urban environments.