Assessment of contaminant lability during phytoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon impacted soil

Zakia D. Parrish, M. Katherine Banks, A. Paul Schwab

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are recalcitrant compounds, some of which are known carcinogens, often found in high residual soil concentrations at industrial sites. Recent research has confirmed that phytoremediation holds promise as a low-cost treatment method for PAH contaminated soil. In this study, the lability of soil bound PAHs in the rhizosphere was estimated using solid phase extraction resin. An extraction time of 14 days was determined to be appropriate for this study. Resin-extractable PAHs, which are assumed to be more bioavailable, decreased during plant treatments. Significant reductions in the labile concentrations of several PAH compounds occurred over 12 months of plant growth. The differences in concentration between the unplanted and the planted soil indicate that the presence of plant roots, in addition to the passage of time, contributes to reduction in the bioavailability of target PAHs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)187-197
Number of pages11
JournalEnvironmental Pollution
Volume137
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2005

Keywords

  • Biodegradation
  • Bioremediation
  • Microorganisms
  • Phytoremediation
  • Plants
  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • Rhizosphere
  • Soil

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Toxicology
  • Pollution
  • Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis

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