A comprehensive review on phytoremediation of cadmium ( Cd ) by mustard ( Brassica juncea L . ) and sunflower ( Helianthus annuus L . )

Phytoremediation is an important process in the removal of heavy metals and contaminants from the soil and the environment. Plants can help clean many types of pollution, including metals, pesticides, explosives, and oil. Phytoremediation in phytoextraction is a major technique. In this process is the use of plants or algae to remove contaminants in the soil, sediment or water in the harvesting of plant biomass. Heavy metal is generally known set of elements with atomic mass (> 5 gcm -3), particularly metals such as exchange of cadmium, lead and mercury. Between different pollutant cadmium (Cd) is the most toxic and plant and animal heavy metals. Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) and Sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) are the plant for the production of high biomass and rapid growth, and it seems that the appropriate species for phytoextraction because it can compensate for the low accumulation of cadmium with a much higher biomass yield. To use chelators, such as acetic acid, ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and to increase the solubility of metals in the soil to facilitate easy availability indiscernible and the absorption of the plant from root leg in vascular plants. *Corresponding Author: Awais Shakoor  awais.shakoor22@gmail.com Journal of Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences (JBES) ISSN: 2220-6663 (Print) 2222-3045 (Online) Vol. 10, No. 3, p. 88-98, 2017 http://www.innspub.net J. Bio. Env. Sci. 2017 89 | Shakoor et al. Introduction Phytoremediation consists of Greek and words of "station" and Latin remedium plants, which means "rebalancing" describes the treatment of environmental problems treatment (biological) through the use of plants that mitigate the environmental problem without digging contaminated materials and disposed of elsewhere. Controlled by the plant interactions with groundwater and organic and inorganic contaminated materials in specific locations to achieve therapeutic targets molecules site application (Landmeyer, 2011). Phytoremediation is the use of green plants to remove contaminants from the environment or render them harmless. The technology that uses plants to" green space "of heavy metals in the soil through the roots. While vacuum cleaners and you should be able to withstand and survive high levels of heavy metals in the soil unique plants (Baker, 2000). The main result in increasing the population and more industrialization are caused water and soil contamination that is harmful for environment as well as human health. In the whole world, contamination in the soil by heavy metals has become a very serious issue. So, removal of these heavy metals from the soil is very necessary to protect the soil and human health. Both inorganic and organic contaminants, like petroleum, heavy metals, agricultural waste, pesticide and fertilizers are the main source that deteriorate the soil health (Chirakkara et al., 2016). Heavy metals have great role in biological system, so we can divide into two groups’ essentials and non essential. Those heavy metals which play a vital role in biochemical and physiological function in some living organisms are called essential heavy metals, like zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni) and cupper (Cu) (Cempel and Nikel, 2006). In some living organisms, heavy metals don’t play any role in biochemical as well as physiological functions are called non essential heavy metals, such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and Cadmium (Cd) (Dabonne et al., 2010). Cadmium (Cd) is consider as a non essential heavy metal that is more toxic at very low concentration as compare to other non essential heavy metals. It is toxic to plant, human and animal health. Cd causes serious diseases in human health through the food chain (Rafiq et al., 2014). So, removal of Cd from the soil is very important problem to overcome these issues (Neilson and Rajakaruna, 2015). Several methods are used to remove the Cd from the soil, such as physical, chemical and physiochemical to increase the soil pH (Liu et al., 2015). The main source of Cd contamination in the soil and environment is automobile emissions, batteries and commercial fertilizers (Liu et al., 2015). Phytoremediation is a promising technique that is used in removing the heavy metals form the soil (Ma et al., 2011). Plants update the heavy metals through the root and change the soil properties which are helpful in increasing the soil fertility (Mench et al., 2009). Plants can help clean many types of pollution, including metals, pesticides, explosives, and oil. Plants also help prevent wind and rain, groundwater and implementation of pollution off site to other areas. Phytoremediation works best in locations with low to moderate amounts of pollution. Plants absorb harmful chemicals from the soil when the roots take in water and nutrients from contaminated soils, streams and groundwater. Once inside the plant and chemicals can be stored in the roots, stems, or leaves. Change of less harmful chemicals within the plant. Or a change in the gases that are released into the air as a candidate plant Agency (US Environmental Protection, 2001). Phytoremediation is the direct use of living green plants and minutes to stabilize or reduce pollution in soil, sludge, sediment, surface water or groundwater bodies with low concentrations of pollutants a large clean space and shallow depths site offers favorable treatment plant (associated with US Environmental Protection Agency 0.2011) circumstances. Phytoremediation is the use of plants for the treatment of contaminated soil sites and sediments J. Bio. Env. Sci. 2017 90 | Shakoor et al. and water. It is best applied at sites of persistent organic pollution with shallow, nutrient, or metal. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology for contaminated sites is attractive because of its low cost and versatility (Schnoor, 1997). Contaminated soils on the site using the processing plants. Phytoremediation is a plant that excessive accumulation of metals in contaminated soils in growth (National Research Council, 1997). Phytoremediation to facilitate the concentration of pollutants in contaminated soil, water or air is composed, and plants able to contain, degrade or eliminate metals, pesticides, solvents, explosives, crude oil and its derivatives, and other contaminants in the media that contain them. Phytoremediation have several techniques and these techniques depend on different factors, like soil type, contaminant type, soil depth and level of ground water. Special operation situations and specific technology applied at the contaminated site (Hyman and Dupont 2001). Techniques of phytoremediation Different techniques are involved in phytoremediation, such as phytoextraction, phytostabilisation, phytotransformation, phytostimulation, phytovolatilization, and rhizofiltration. Phytoextraction Phytoextraction is also called phytoabsorption or phytoaccumulation, in this technique heavy metals are removed by up taking through root form the water and soil environment, and accumulated into the shoot part (Rafati et al., 2011). Phytostabilisation Phytostabilisation is also known as phytoimmobilization. In this technique different type of plants are used for stabilization the contaminants from the soil environment (Ali et al., 2013). By using this technique, the bioavailability and mobility of the different contaminants are reduced. So, this technique is help to avoiding their movement into food chain as well as into ground water (Erakhrumen, 2007). Nevertheless, Phytostabilisation is the technique by which movement of heavy metals can be stop but its not permanent solution to remove the contamination from the soil. Basically, phytostabilisation is the management approach for inactivating the potential of toxic heavy metals form the soil environment contaminants (Vangronsveld et al., 2009).