Certain trees can pull radioactive thorium out of soil
Manigandan PK
Phytoremediation
Old mining sites and industrial land often carry radioactive contamination, and this research points to specific native woody plants that can help draw thorium out of the ground instead of costly excavation.
Thorium is a radioactive element that hurts plants by blocking seed sprouting, stunting growth, and messing with photosynthesis, and it doesn't do anything useful for them biologically. Some woody trees and shrubs have clever defenses though, like making special proteins that lock the thorium away in safe storage spots and producing antioxidant enzymes to limit the damage. Scientists reviewed which of these tough native species handle thorium best, since planting the right trees on contaminated land could be a low-cost way to clean it up over time.
Key Findings
Thorium toxicity in woody plants was categorized across three exposure levels: low, moderate, and high soil concentrations, with effects worsening as levels rise above a toxic threshold.
Thorium impairs seed germination, stunts growth, reduces photosynthetic rate, and limits nutrient uptake, and has no known biological benefit to plants.
Resistant woody plants defend themselves using phytochelatin production, compartmentalized storage of thorium in specific tissues, and antioxidant enzyme systems, making certain native species strong candidates for phytoremediation of thorium-contaminated soils.
chevron_right Technical Summary
This review pulls together what scientists know about how woody trees and shrubs absorb thorium, a radioactive element that can build up in contaminated soil, and highlights which species are best suited to clean it up through their roots.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
A review of toxicity and remediation: thorium uptake by woody plants.
Thorium is an extremely radioactive and hazardous material and there is increasing concern over the environmental impact of thorium on the health of soils. There have been a limited number of inves...
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