Phytoremediation - the use of plants and its associated microbial communities in the rizosphere to degrade, isolate and immobilize contaminants in soil and water - is a relatively cheap technique with aesthetic advantages free of additional impacts. However, most studies with plants to recover contaminated sites have been carried out in countries with temperate climate, where the potential of phytoremediation is limited by climate factors. In Brazil, knowledge regarding the phytoremediation potential of different species for tropical soils is still undeveloped. Associated to the lack of assessment and decision-making tools, the environmental agencies face great difficulties in recommending phytoremediation strategies. This review briefly describes phytoremediation mechanisms and discusses social, economic and regulatory aspects which represent limitations to the full development of this technique, in comparison to conventional techniques that are better known and accepted by environmental agencies and companies. Finally, the current and future Brazilian market for phytoremediation is discussed with suggestions regarding experimental protocols and tools to support decision-making, with a view to promote the application of phytoremediation whenever it appears to be the most appropriate option.
decision tree; bioaugmentation; bioremediation; organic contaminants; toxic metals
