BENEFICIAL-EFFECTS OF PLANTS IN THE REMEDIATION OF SOIL AND GROUNDWATER CONTAMINATED WITH ORGANIC MATERIALS

The use of plants in remediation of soil and unconfined groundwater co ntaminated with organic materials is appealing for a variety of reason s: (1) plants provide a remediation strategy that utilizes solar energ y; (2) vegetation is aesthetically pleasing; (3) plant samples can be harvested and tested as indicators of the level of remediation; (4) pl ants help contain the region of contamination by removing water from s oil; (5) rhizosphere microbial communities are able to biodegrade a wi de variety of organic contaminants; and (6) many plants have mechanism s for transporting oxygen to the rhizosphere. However, before effectiv e plant remediation strategies can be developed, an understanding is n eeded of the physical, biological, and chemical relationships that det ermine the fate of each organic contaminant in the rhizosphere. This r eview presents an overview of some factors required to understand and model the complex processes that determine the fate of the organic con taminants in plant remediation strategies. In addition, some planning and management criteria for the development of practical plant remedia tion strategies are presented.