The prospects of phytoremediation with cannabis sativa l. A review

The rapid population growth, urbanisation, and industrialisation as well as modern agricultural practices, have resulted in production of large volumes of various kinds of wastes that pollute the environment, especially soil. Traditional disposal of contaminated soil includes landfill and incineration. However, these techniques can be very onerous and are not effective at remediating the contaminated material. Phytoremediation is a strongly emerging technology for remediation of contaminated soil and, water, and sediment in an in-situ manner. It has been the relatively low cost of phytoremediation, when compared with that of treatments involving excavation and incineration make it a very reasonable technology. Hemp, scientifically referred to as Cannabis sativa L., is a controversial herb in all spheres of society. While the plant is praised for its therapeutic and perhaps prophylactic properties against several ailments, hemp has also found a place in bioremediation, with applications that include ridding environments of biological and chemical contaminants, particularly in wastewater and solid waste. The following account appraises the known and potential applications of hemp in environmental remediation. Studies have shown that C. sativa L. can take up and accumulate heavy metals in its tissues and showed a very high tolerance to diverse contaminants. The specific mechanisms that hemp employs in the bioremediation processes include: (i) phytoexraction, (ii) rhizofiltration, (iii) phytodegradation and (iv) phytovolatisation. Based on the novelty of applications of hemp in bioremediation, further research is urged to unravel the full potential of the plant in all spheres of environmental management