Assessing Plants for Phytoremediation of Arsenic-Contaminated Soils

Arsenic (As) is a pollutant of major concern throughout the world, and causes serious environmental problems in many areas including, for example, West Bengal, Bangladesh, and Vietnam. Phytoremediation is potentially a cost-effective and environmentally benign method of extracting pollutants from soils for which there have been significant recent advances for As. In particular, the discovery of As-hyperaccumulating ferns and on-going research into their biochemistry, ecology, and agronomy are rapidly increasing their poten-tial utility for phytoextraction of As. Here, we review the latest research into (1) the bio-chemistry of As in plants, (2) plant hyperaccumulation of inorganics including As, (3) the phenomenon of As hyperaccumulation in ferns, and (4) the enhancement of As phytoavail-ability. We conclude by identifying some technical barriers that need to be overcome to fulfill the great potential for phytoextraction of As from soils.