How super plants could help fight pollution

Plants have been shown to be capable of absorbing harmful substances present in the soil and in water. But how does this process work? The substances can either get sucked out of the soil, before being transported into the stems and leaves, or remain trapped below the ground, in the roots. Certain species are also able to break down polluting particles into less toxic chemicals.

Thanks to their pollution-busting properties, some plant species are able to neutralise metals, pesticides, oil and even radioactive elements.

Letting plants do the dirty work isn't just a far-fetched idea. In France, nearly 90 percent of cities home to at least 50,000 people have some soil with pollution exceeding safe levels. According to some estimates, using plants to clean up pollution could be 10 to 100 times cheaper than the traditional method, which requires digging up the soil. Unlike chemical treatments, it can also be effective on a large surface.

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