ABSTRACT
Plants.take.their.nutrients.from.the.air.and.air.moisture.(fog,.dew,.and.rainfall),.and. are. able. to. take.up.dissolved.compounds. from.soil.water. to. live. and.grow..Many. plants.live.in.symbiosis.with.soil.fungi.(mycorrhiza),.which.themselves.are.able.to. uptake.and.deliver.specific.solutes.to.their.host..Unfortunately,.in.the.process.of.taking.up.essential.plant.nutrients.and.energy.sources,.plants.also.take.up.heavy.metals,. pesticides,.and.other.bioavailable.pollutants.that.are.undesirable.for.human.consumption..For.example,.it.has.been.recognized.that.there.are.mechanisms.that.lead.to.the. uptake.of.insecticides.such.as.DDT.in.nontargeted.plants..Having.learned.the.lessons. on.the.potential.of.passive.uptake.of.xenobiotics.into.the.crops,.there.is.concern.that. plants.would.also.take.up.pharmacologically.active.compounds.from.contaminated. soil,.thus.accumulating.unwanted.pharmaceuticals.in.edible.parts.of.crops.
