ABSTRACT
This chapter covers the relevance of wetlands, plants, and global developments in recent phytotechnologies for the remediation of emerging environmental contaminants. Environmental and economic limiting factors that are closely associated with chemical technologies are discussed, which paved the way to phytotechnologies. Emphasis is given to heavy metals (sources, human health impacts, and remediation); however, emerging environmental contaminants of global concern are also included for phytoremediation study with global wetland plants. The strengths (advantages) and limitations of phytoremediation in a global context are also discussed. To direct future research and fill the existing knowledge gap, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis for phytotechnologies and phytoremediation is discussed. To this end, the fate of emerging contaminants like metals in wetland plant biomass, the possible environmental implications, and their eco-friendly solutions are discussed in this chapter. Finally, the role of genetic engineering and gene manipulation and molecular tools for enhancing the pace and success of phytotechnologies is discussed as a future prospect.
