Abstract
The presence of heavy metals in the environment can lead to environmental pollution that can negatively impact on animals and plants life. Human activities such as industrializations and urbanizations as well as natural processes that include weathering of mineral deposits and volcanic activities are the major causes of accumulation of heavy metals in the environment. This report is aimed at providing appropriate strategy that can be used to reclaim the abandoned 200 acre land in Yolo County, California. The report gives an evaluation of the status of heavy metal contamination at the abandoned site in Yolo County. The report starts by explaining various methods of soil remediation and then proposes the appropriate soil remediation methods that can be applied in the abandoned land. It further discuses the advantages and limitations of Phytoremediation approach, recommendation for the plant species to be used and the safety and health concerns of the soil remediation approach.
Soil Remediation
Soil remediation is a method of reclaiming contaminated soil so as to become productive and supportive to plants and animals life (Mulligan et al 201). There are various methods that can be used to reclaim contaminated soil. Soil remediation methods involve cleaning of soils that are contaminated with toxic materials such as chemicals and heavy metals. The cleaning of the contaminated soil can be cumbersome especially if it involves a large mass of land. The complex composition of soil that consists of various solid constituents, water and gases makes it difficult for individuals to come up with effective soil remediation methods. The approaches that have been used to clean contaminated soil can be classified broadly into two main categories namely biological and physiochemical approach.
The physiochemical method of soil remediation involves the treatment of the contaminated soil through a chemical process. It includes collection, excavation and burial of the contaminated soil at a specified site (Pilon-Smits and Marinus 440). The contaminated soils are treated by the use of certain chemicals through a chemical process. The treated soils are then returned to the sites and used once again for various purposes.
The biological method of soil remediation involves the use of microorganism or plants to reduce the contamination of the soils. Some of the species of microorganisms have specific enzymes that can help reduce the level of contamination in soil. Some plants are also important towards detoxification of heavy metals present in the soils. This involves the use of special plants that are able to inactivate the metals that contaminate the soil. This approach that involves the use of special plants to reduce the contamination of soils is referred to as phytoremediation soil remediation. This is considered as a new technology that is effective in reducing the level of contamination in the soils as well as the cost effective method of soil remediation.
Recommedation of Phytoremediation Approach
Phytoremediation approach is the recommended soil remediation method to decontaminate the abandoned land in Yolo County. Phytoremediation approach of soil remediation is a new and emerging technology for reclaiming land that has been contaminated by various metals and chemicals (Boppana and Ramachandra 111). Phytoremediation can also be referred to as the botanical remediation because of the use of green plants to reduce the level of contamination in soil. This method can be applied for inorganic and organic pollutants that contaminate the soil. The use of phytoremediation approach for the decontamination of the abandoned land in Yolo Country, California is due to its effectiveness in terms of cost and performance.
The Advantages of Phytoremediation Approach
The phytoremediation approach of soil remediation has numerous advantages that make it appropriate method for soil remediation for the abandoned land in Yolo County. One of the advantages associated with this approach is that it is one of the cheapest methods of soil remediation. The method is cost effective as compared to other remedial methods that can make the country incur huge cost. This method is affordable to the county hence can enables it achieve its objectives of reclaiming the land at its current tight budget.
This method can also help to protect the environment. The use of green plants reduces the level of soil erosion and pollution (UNEP). This is because green plants are important in protecting the land hence improves the condition of the soil. Using green plants also reduces the amount of contaminated materials that goes to land fills. This ensures that the environment is protected from the harmful materials hence promote safety and healthy standards in the region.
The phytoremediation approach uses natural energy mainly from solar hence it is a neutral and safe method for the environment. This makes it to be energy effective and to have less impact on the environment. Again biomass energy can be obtained through combustion of biomass which is one of the recommended green sources of energy recommended by various environmental agencies. The biomass energy is friendly to the environment and reduces environmental pollution and degradation.
The phytoremediation approach is also a faster method of soil remediation than conventional methods such as natural attrition. This makes it to be acceptable by various individuals and environmental agencies around the world. The acceptability of the method can be attributed to its limited impact towards environmental degradation as well as the role that it plays towards environment conservation.
The Limitation of Phytoremediation Approach
Phytoremediation method is faced with a number of limitations and challenges. The major limitation of this soil remediation method is that it is slow and time consuming process. The process requires significant amount of time to be completed. This is because the processes involved in this approach is complex as it requires the analysis of the components of the contaminated soils and the identifications and plantation of appropriate plants that can reduce the level of the contamination in the soil.
Another limitation of the phytoremediation soil remediation approach is that it success depends on the climatic conditions of a region (UNEP). The trees that are planted to decontaminate the soil require favorable climatic conditions so as to be able to grow and help in the decontamination of the soil. Some of the plants can also be affected by the contaminated soil hence affects their effectiveness towards soil remediation.
Recommendation for the Plant Species
The recommended plant species should be able to effectively decontaminate the soil contaminated with heavy metals. The recommended plant species should be effective in eradicating the presence of copper and zinc which are the main heavy metals that contaminates the land. The plant species that are appropriate for the abandoned land are Alpine Pennycress and Willow. This is because these plants are capable of absorbing large quantities of zinc and copper from the soil. Alpine Pennycress has the ability to accumulate large quantities of zinc and copper at levels that can be toxic to most plants. This enables it to absorb large quantities of zinc present in the soil hence lead to the decontamination of the soil from high levels of zinc.
Willow on the hand is a plant species characterized with the ability to absorb cadmium, Zinc and copper. The plant is also characterized with high transport capacity that enables it to transport heavy metals from roots to shoot at a faster speed. The ability of this plant species that enables it to absorb large quantities of zinc and copper is important towards remediation of soil from high levels of zinc and copper present in the affected area.
The Safety and Health Concerns
The use of phytoremediation approach towards remediation of soil from toxic substances such as heavy metals should be monitored appropriately to ensure that the safety and health standard is maintained in the region. Various precautionary measures should be put in place to ensure that the health and safety standards of animals and plants in the area are not affected (Pilon-Smits 32).
The areas should be well fenced and monitored to ensure that no animals enter the region. This can prevent the animals from consuming the plants hence getting contaminated with the toxic substances that can be absorbed by the animals feeding on the plants. Consumption of these plants by animals can lead to spread of diseases and death of the animals. Hence fencing and monitoring the area under of phytoremediation soil remediation method is a precautionary that should be taken by the individuals involved in soil remediation process.
The species of plants that are used for the soil remediation in the affected area should also be disposed appropriately so as to reduce chances of contamination of the public that can eventually lead to the spread of diseases and death of animals. Once the soil has been reclaimed, the plants should be uprooted and disposed appropriately so that no animals in the region can be affected by the toxic metals that are absorbed by the plants. This can help in the protection of the general public and the environment from the negative effects of the heavy metals present in the soil.
Work Cited
Boppana, Suresh., and Ramachandra Rao. “Phytoremediation-A novel and promising approach
for environmental clean-up.” Critical reviews in biotechnology 24.2-3 (2004): 97-124. Print
Mulligan, Catherine N., Raymond N. Yong, and Bernard F. Gibbs.”Remediation technologies for
metal-contaminated soils and groundwater: an evaluation.” Engineering geology 60.1 (2001): 193-207. Print
Pilon-Smits, Elizabeth, and Marinus Pilon. “Phytoremediation of metals using transgenic plants.”
Critical reviews in plant sciences 21.5 (2002): 439-456. Print
Pilon-Smits, Elizabeth. “Phytoremediation.” Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 56 (2005): 15-39. Print
UNEP. Phytotechnlogies, November 20, 2013.Web. November 20, 2013 <
http://www.unep.or.jp/Ietc/Publications/Freshwater/FMS7/16.asp >
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