Conclusions and Outlook
Phytotechnologies to manage soils polluted by metals

Phytotechnologies have significant potential for use at sites with moderate or low levels of contamination, or as a complement to physicochemical techniques. Soil restoration is facilitated by the mechanical action of roots on soil structure and rhizosphere activity, which stimulates soil microbiology. These techniques have a low ecological footprint, leading to favorable public perception and offering the potential for land value appreciation and on-site land management compared to techniques requiring excavation and transportation. Furthermore, the addition of vegetation cover reduces erosion, dust dispersion, the leaching of pollutants, and their transfer to the groundwater, thereby mitigating the environmental and health risks associated with contaminated sites. This approach maintains or restores suitable flora and fauna, which ensure soil functionality.

The...