Abstract
Plastic and heavy metals are substances that pollute our environment, but many other substances can pollute soil, water, and air as well. These substances include dyes and chemicals used in agriculture. These different types of pollution especially build up in soil and water, which are essential for the existence of organisms. To remove pollutants from water and soil, different methods exist. Biological methods are most environmentally friendly. For example, microorganisms can turn pollutants into non-dangerous substances like water and carbon dioxide, in a natural process without the need for chemicals or heat that harm the environment. Also, plants can use different methods to reduce the negative impact of pollution that is already harming the environment.
Credit: This chapter is based on seven scientific articles by Farah Eryssa Khalid, Divjot Kour, Nishita Ojha, Renju Liu, Bismark Asante-Badu, Alexandra D. Solomou, and Shafaqat Ali and their colleagues. (Full citations and links available at the end of the chapter)
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Credit
This Chapter Is Based On:
Microorganisms:
Khalid, F. E., Lim, Z. S., Sabri, S., Gomez-Fuentes, C., Zulkharnain, A., & Ahmad, S. A. (2021). Bioremediation of diesel contaminated marine water by bacteria: A review and bibliometric analysis. Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, 9(2), 155.
Kour, D., et al. (2021). Beneficial microbiomes for bioremediation of diverse contaminated environments for environmental sustainability: present status and future challenges. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(20), 24917–24939.
Liu, R., Zhao, S., Zhang, B., Li, G., Fu, X., Yan, P., & Shao, Z. (2023). Biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) by marine bacteria in mangrove ecosystem. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 442, 130056.
Ojha, N., Karn, R., Abbas, S., & Bhugra, S. (2021, June). Bioremediation of Industrial Wastewater: A Review. In IOP conference series: Earth and environmental science (Vol. 796, no. 1, p. 012012). IOP Publishing.
Plants:
Ali, S., et al. (2020). Application of floating aquatic plants in phytoremediation of heavy metals polluted water: a review. Sustainability, 12(5), 1927.
Asante-Badu, B., Kgorutla, L. E., Li, S. S., Danso, P. O., Xue, Z., & Qiang, G. (2020). Phytoremediation of organic and inorganic compounds in a natural and an agricultural environment: A review. Applied Ecology and Environmental Research, 18(5), 6875–6904.
Solomou, A. D., et al. (2022). Utilizing mediterranean plants to remove contaminants from the soil environment: A short review. Agriculture, 12(2), 238.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Figure Credits
Figure Credits
Fig. 11.1 VectorMine on Shutterstock
Fig. 11.2 Conmongt on Pixabay
Fig. 11.3 Univega on Shutterstock
Fig. 11.4 VectorMine on Shutterstock
Fig. 11.5 Scisetti Alfio on Shutterstock
Fig. 11.6 Nahhana on Shutterstock
Fig. 11.7 Smereka on Shutterstock
Fig. 11.8 “Cannabis sativa leaf” by Dominik Matus is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cannabis_sativa_leaf.jpg
Author: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Dominikmatus
License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en
Fig. 11.9 Tukaram Karve on Shutterstock
Fig. 11.10 Mykhailo Baidala on Shutterstock
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van Genuchten, E. (2023). Pollution Solutions: Removing Pollutants from Soil and Water. In: A Guide to a Healthier Planet. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34479-4_11
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-34479-4_11
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-34478-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-34479-4
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)