Role of emergent macrophytes for phytoremediation of nutrients, heavy metals, and arsenic in constructed wetlands.

Authors

Prabhat Kumar Rai

Published in

Environmental science and pollution research international. Jun 15, 2026. Epub Jun 15, 2026.

Abstract

Nutrients, heavy metals (HMs), and arsenic (As) pollution in the environment increased sharply after the Industrial Revolution. At present, global anthropogenic sources of nutrients and HMs remarkably exceed the geogenic sources, perturbing environmental sustainability and human health. The ecological risk of deploying traditional chemical technologies underscores the need of fostering phyto-technologies as green approach for wastewater treatment. Nonetheless, knowledge is insufficient on sustainability paradigm of emergent macrophytes-driven phytoremediation in constructed wetlands (CWs). Macrophytes are equipped with unique physico-biochemical and molecular mechanisms associated with oxidative stress tolerance and inorganic pollutants remediation. Therefore, the present review offers a panoramic view on the use of hyperaccumulator emergent macrophytes in CWs for nutrients, HMs, and As remediation. Further, the present discussion prioritizes the quest for bioprospecting emergent macrophytes in fostering up-scaled wastewater phytotechnologies. The results reveal the potential role of emergent macrophytes in phytoremediation of inorganic pollutants, including metal-based nano-scale particles. Phytostabilization is elucidated as major mechanism of phytoremediation to mitigate human health risks and eutrophication. Last, the limitations and prospects in emergent macrophytes-based phytotechnologies are discussed to help achieve "United Nation's Sustainable Development Goals" (UN-SDGs). In future prospects, biomass of emergent macrophytes can be coupled with "Plant microbial Fuel cell" (PMFC) for renewable energy and climate action, nurturing SDG 7 and SDG 13. Moreover, technoeconomic and life-cycle assessment of phytotechnology need to be abridged with "Biorefinery and Circular Bioeconomy" and "Functionalized Biochar Carbon Composites" to help achieve sustainable phytoremediation for timely accomplishment of multiple UN-SDGs.

PMID:
42295626
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 15 Jun 2026.

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