Phytoremediation Potentials of Sunflower Plant

Heavy metals are contaminants that poses great environmental burden as they are hazardous to human, animal, plant health and the environment at large. In this work, the phytoremediation potential of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) on contaminated soils of abandoned dumpsites was investigated. Samples of both soils and plant were collected and analyzed for certain pollutants (Ni, Pb, Cr and Cd) using the Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Results of the work confirmed the presence of heavy metals in the soil and the various plant parts which clearly exceeds Food and Agricultural Organisation/ World Health Organisation (FAO/WHO) recommended threshold limits (1.5 mg/kg) and also those of the control. Therefore, this work should provide valuable data supporting the use of sunflower plants in phytoremediation and should be useful for professionals in Environmental management, Agriculture, Remediation and in the petroleum industry who may be considering cheaper and cost effective ways of cleaning contaminated soils with no side effects.