Brownfields remediation through urban tree planting

"Remediation of contaminated soils that have been previously treated but still contains pollutant concentrations above legal levels might be inexpensively accomplished through phytoremediation technology. The establishment of plant communities on polluted sites may lead to the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in-situ and the hyperaccumulation of heavy metals in plant tissues, thus decontaminating the soil and thereby protecting surrounding ground and surface water (Miller, 1996; Salt et al., 1998). The use of plants to remediate contaminated soil (phytoremediation) associated with brownfields (Fig 1 and Fig 2) sites may be possible. This paper reports the analysis carried out on a brownfield site in Baton Rouge, Louisiana USA treated by phytoremediation techniques. Soils associated with this brownfield site contain PAHs and high concentration of heavy metals. Remediation of soil on this site has consisted of tree coverage. Two widely distributed tree species on this site were Sapium sebiferum and Albizia julibrissin. This study quantified the ability of invasive tree species in remediating the contaminated site. The preliminary results support the utilization of tree species in remediation of brownfields in urban areas." [Abstract]