Är fytoremediering en realistisk metod för att rena marken runt Glasriket på arsenik, kadmium och bly?

Sammanfattning: Phytoremediation is a technique using the ability of plants to absorb pollutants in their biomass from contaminated soils and remediate it. The plants are then harvested and the soil gets purified. This method is more environmental-friendly than the normally used methods for soil remediation. Glasriket in Småland is an area with large amount of pollutants including arsenic, cadmium and lead. This area must be cleaned from these metals because of the high threat to the environment ant the health of people who live here. This work has been carried out to investigate whether phytoremediation is a realistic remediation method for Glasriket or not. Phytoremediation is affected by many factors such as the environment, soil characteristics and the metals bioavailability. But the key determinant for the method is the choice of plants. The chosen plants must have the ability to survive at the location but also have a high biomass and a good ability to absorb heavy metals. Plants with these criteria do not generally grow in Sweden, which leads to the conclusion that phytoremediation not are a realistic option for Glasriket. But phytoremediation can be used as a second method or in a combination with other methods.