Leveraging plant-based remediation technologies against chromite mining toxicity

The release of hazardous hexavalent chromium from chromite mining seriously threatens habitats and human health by contaminating water, air, and soil. Vulnerability to hexavalent chromium can result in significant health risks, viz, respiratory issues, gastrointestinal illnesses, skin problems in humans, and a plethora of toxic effects in animals. Moreover, Cr(VI) toxicity can adversely affect plant physiology by inhibiting seed germination, nutrient uptake, cell division, and root development, ultimately impairing growth and vitality. Fortunately, innovative techniques such as phytoremediation and nanotechnology have been developed to address heavy metal contamination, offering a promising solution, mainly through the use of hyperaccumulating plants. Biochar derived from plant waste is widely used and is emerging as a sustainable strategy for remediating Cr(VI) contamination. Biochar is rich in carbon and highly influential in removing Cr(VI) from contaminated soils. This approach addresses immediate challenges while providing a sustainable pathway for environmental rehabilitation in chromium mining. Integrating innovative technologies with nature-based solutions offers a holistic approach to reducing the harmful effects of chromium mining, thus protecting both human well-being and ecosystems. This review highlights the impact of Cr(VI) on different living biotas and further emphasizes the use of plants and plant-based materials for the sustainable remediation of chromite mining regions. Cr(VI) pollution is a primary environmental crisis, and remediation using natural entities such as plants has been widely practiced. Most of these studies have documented the efficiency of plants in the remediation process. The current review emphasizes the different criteria for the selection of Cr(VI) hyperaccumulators. It also outlines the drawbacks of the technique and emphasizes the use of biochar derived from plant biomass as a better alternative. This review provides the latest updates in the field of remediation of Cr(VI) by employing both plants and plant-based biochar. Moreover, it highlights the possible biases and ethical deliberations that need to be taken into due consideration.