PubMed · 2026-05-09
Lead and cadmium from industrial and agricultural sources are contaminating soils and vegetables worldwide at levels exceeding WHO safety limits. This review finds that the ornamental plant sisal, zinc oxide nanoparticles, and moringa leaf extract show promise for pulling these toxic metals out of contaminated soil without disrupting food production.
Lead and cadmium levels in soils and vegetables across multiple countries exceeded WHO permissible limits, posing direct risks to food safety.
Sisal (Agave sisalana) is identified as a strong phytoremediation candidate because it grows rapidly, produces high biomass, and its fiber can directly sequester lead and cadmium from soil without competing with food crops.
Foliar application of zinc oxide nanoparticles and moringa leaf extract may reduce uptake of lead and cadmium in plants, though combined effects of these techniques require further research.
