PHYTOSTABILIZATION OF METAL MINE TAILINGS—A GREEN REMEDIATION TECHNOLOGY

Abstract

Mine tailings are the main source of environmental pollution due to the containing high concentration of heavy metals in the tailings, which cause a serious health threat to humans and animals. The toxic metals in mines are rapidly releasing into the nearby groundwater and agricultural soils causing various environmental and health problems in the mining area. Therefore, mine tailings need suitable techniques to reduce the release of heavy metals and their remediation technology. To date, numerous physical and chemical techniques have been applied for the remediation of heavy metals in contaminated water and soils, these techniques are expensive and applicable on small scale. Phytoremediation is one of the most promising, cost-effective, and eco-friendly technology for the removal of heavy metals from the polluted environment. In this chapter, we emphasize the environmental and health impacts of mine tailings and a potential method of removal and reduction of leaching toxic metals in mine tailings via green remediation technology.