ABSTRACT
Heavy metals (HMs) are those metals whose density is more than 5 grams per cc. They are present in the earth’s crust as ores and minerals. They have been in use by humans since the dawn of civilization. However, the unplanned use of these metals has resulted in contamination of the earth over the past few centuries. They are potentially toxic and affect both plants and animals. Contamination by HMs has adversely affected the plants and has negatively affected the crops by reducing their productivity. This is largely due to rapid industrialization, which is forcing people to make rampant use of these heavy metals without taking scientific and systematic measures for disposal. This negligence is rapidly paving the way for HM build-up in the environment and is consequently up taken by the plants. Conventional methods of decontamination are adopted but it attracts a higher price and is not sustainable. Thus, scientists have resorted to green methodologies to decontaminate excess HMs from the environment. Thus, the process of phytoremediation is adopted for the ‘clean up’ process. This chapter is an attempt to overview HMs and pollution/problems caused by them. Efforts are made to make elaborate documentation of HM contamination, its accumulation within plants, and the use of plants for phytoremediation purposes.
