Phytostabilisation of metal-contaminated sites

The oldest field experiments confirm that phytostabilisation is an unobtrusively and cost-effective technique for treating metal-contaminated soils. University research teams having relatively few means have mostly established trials, but lack funds to deliver crucial long-term assessments. Soil amendments can initiate a healthy and diverse ecosystem at a contaminated site. Inputs of soil amendment are usually economically reasonable and environmentally benign. Selection of additives in batch experiments is necessary and can avoid increasing contaminant toxicity to living organisms, but may not forecast some long-term effects. Materials found to be promising under batch experiment and/or glasshouse conditions can be less effective in the field. Decline of effectiveness can occur over time. Failures and side effects such as induced deficiencies can arise and tend to be site specific. To avoid failures, a thorough evaluation of materials must be conducted, in particular in field lysimeters and/or in plots for each site, in combination with or without the choice of biological material.