Hyperaccumulator plants, characteristics

Chaney et al. (1997) identified three characteristics of hyperaccumulator plants. 

The vegetation used to extract toxic metals may pose a risk to animals that consume these plants. Animal consumption of process plants could also result in harmful metals working their way up the food chain. Hyperaccumulation is a much slower process than most chemical and physical technologies, and its performance is typically measured in months or years. Technology effectiveness is limited by root growth thus, wastes must be relatively close to the surface. In addition, the toxicity of the targeted contaminants and other site-specific characteristics such as pH, soil characteristics, nutrient content, and water availability can impact technology performance. 

Wenzel, W.W., Bnnkowski, M., Puschenreiter, M., Horak, O., 2003. Rhizosphere characteristics of indigenonsly growing nickel hyperaccumulator and excinder plants on serpentine soil. Environ. PoU. 123, 131-138. 

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