Today, environmental pollution is at the top of the list among the reasons that negatively affect human health.
Factors such as unplanned urbanization, the effects of technologies that have entered our lives, unconscious society, rapid population growth, irresponsible operation of factories; It is one of the main causes of environmental pollution and we try to solve this environmental pollution from time to time by industrial means. However, it is also possible to clean mother nature with the children of mother nature. Today, we will discuss Phytoremediation with you.
Origin and meaning of the word phytoremediation
An example of Phytoremediation field
Phytoremediation word, with the Latin word Phyto (Phytos), which means plant, to correct or from the word Phytormediation, which consists of the words Remedium, which means to eliminate evil. We can translate into Turkish as herbal breeding systems.
Phytoremediation, in the most general terms, is the removal and destruction of polluted and hazardous wastes by using green plants.
The general logic and operation of Phytoremediation
As you can guess, Phytoremediation aims to clean the pollution in soil and water in particular. Solid, liquid or radioactive wastes, which are defined as toxic and heavy metals in the soil, both pollute the environment and harm living things, including humans, and reduce the productivity of the soil.
These harmful substances mixed with the soil are collected and destroyed by some plants called hyperaccumulator plants, or they are released back into nature harmlessly.
Plant species used in Phytoremediation
Quzhou Luming Park in China is one of the most popular Phytoremediation sites in the world and attracts a lot of tourists due to its aesthetic appeal. .
The preferred plant type also varies according to the type of Phytoremediation preferred in soil or water and the type of harmful substance in the region, but still, many plants that we will be surprised to hear are included in this list.
Mustard, red ball grass, dandelion (bitter, southern or snappy), sunflower, marigold (calendula), elephant ear, henna flower (shrine flower), ice flower (lunchflower), water hyacinth, black mulberry , fern, black willow, poplar, cypress (cypress), Indian grass (tick flower) and duckweed plants are the most frequently used and most successful plants in Phytoremediation.
Types and application areas of Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation has some different application methods within itself. For example, while some plants collect harmful substances only with their roots; some distribute harmful substances to their stems and leaves with their roots. While some plants completely destroy harmful substances; some plants release the harmful substance harmlessly into nature. While some plants do this treatment alone, some plants do this together with the microorganisms in the soil.
All these Phytoremediation types have special names and methods, but our curious followers can access this information, which is advanced detail for us, by reading scientific articles in the resources section at the end of the content.
The positive aspects of Phytoremediation
Duckweed and the frog that closely follows Phytoremediation
First of all, Phytoremediation is a purely organic purification function. The environment never encounters the situation of pollution for the second time during this purification function. The treatment can be done on site and there is no need for a new area for waste dumping as in industrial treatment.
It is very easy to apply, we do not have any other problems other than choosing the right plant according to the soil and waste and planting it, and it should not be forgotten that plants are more aesthetic than industrial treatment plants. We think it goes without saying that growing plants is much cheaper than establishing a treatment plant.
Even if you are phytoremediation, you will have negative aspects
Like all good things, Phytoremediation does not have negative aspects. For example, the treatment process in the region, in Phytoremediation; Depending on the soil, plant and pollution, it can take longer than other unnatural treatment methods.
If the leaves of plants that have accumulated heavy metals or harmful substances in their leaves and have not yet been able to destroy them, fall off in autumn, these harmful substances are considered to be mixed into nature again as the leaves mix with the soil.
Finally, if there are harmful substances in woody plants (such as poplar) that the plant has trapped but not yet destroyed, and some parts of this plant are burned in the stove as wood; It is highly likely that the fumes from the stove and these dangerous substances will be mixed with nature again.
Chernobyl’s secret hero Phytoremediation
Phytoremediation, as you can imagine, is a purification method that has been generally used in developed countries until today, but it has been gradually developed by various universities that it can be used in our country as well. researches are available and even scientific researches are carried out in some pilot districts.
The two most interesting information among the data obtained so far are; While most plants can accumulate 100 ppm of zinc; We can list the fact that phytoremediation plants can accumulate an average of 26 thousand ppm of zinc and an important part of the radioactive substance Cesium 137 (Cs-137), which emerged after the disaster in Chernobyl, is the improvement of phytoremediation plants.
What about you? Have you heard of Phytoremediation method before? What are your thoughts on phytoremediation plants and this natural treatment method? You can share it with us in the comments.
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