ABSTRACT
Heavy metals are being released into the environment by anthropogenic activities, primarily associated with industrial processes, manufacturing, and disposal of industrial and domestic refuse and waste materials [1]. Mining activities produce a large quantity of waste materials (such as tailings), which frequently contain excessive concentrations of heavy metals. These mining activities and waste materials create pollution and land degradation without vegetation coverage. Phytoremediation of metalliferous mine tailings is necessary for long-term stability of the land surface or removal of toxic metals. Soils and water contaminated with heavy metals pose a major environmental and human health problem that needs an effective and affordable technological solution. Phytostabilization is an important subset of phytoremediation technology in which plants stabilize the pollutants in soils, thus rendering them harmless [2].
