The Beneficial Role of Some Microorganism in Soil Phytoremediation and Mitigation of Health Risk

Heavy metals (e.g. nickel, cadmium, lead, copper, chromium, zinc) and persistent organic pollutants (e.g. organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), bromide compounds (BFRs), per-fluorinated compounds (PFCs), dioxins and furans) may be found in soil as a result of various industrial and agricultural activities. Due to their toxic and negative effects, the presence of these pollutants in soil may pose a risk to the environment and human health (e.g. reduce soil fertility and agricultural productivity; present carcinogenic, mutagenic, teratogenic effects on living organism). Soil bioremediation using microorganisms and plants, as well as plant-bacteria synergism represents a viable alternative from economic, social and environmental point of view. The main objective of this paper is to highlight the beneficial role that microorganisms play in the phytoremediation process for the removal of some pollutants from soil.