Phytoremediation of contaminants of emerging concern from soil with industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.): a review

The presence of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in wastewater treatment plant effluents is a significant underlying health risk and environmental concern. CECs consist of a wide variety of contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and personal care products, hormones, steroids, alkyl-phenols, flame retardants and pesticides. Their impact is of particular relevance to agricultural settings due to CEC uptake and accumulation in food crops and consequent diffusion into the food-chain. Meanwhile, marijuana reform is accelerating in the US, based on the scope and pace of legalization efforts and on wider acceptance in polls of voters. In this review, the effectiveness of industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) in phytoremediation and hyperaccumulation of organic contaminants (e.g., benzo(a)pyrene, Naphthalene, and Chrysene) and heavy metal (e.g., Selenium and Cobalt) from either aqueous solutions or contaminated soils has been reviewed. The potential of industrial hemp as a renewable resource to biodegrade and/or decontaminate CECs is explored. Disposal strategies of this new phytoremediation crop that promote circular economy are also discussed. According to this current review, we believe the use of industrial hemp for phytoremediation is promising to have a sustainable, environmentally friendly and economically viable future.