1. Update of the USDA Phytoremediation Database
Sara Perl Egendorf1,2, Zhongqi Cheng1,2, Donna Cao1, Anna Minsky1, Gerry Moore3
2nd Annual Urban Soils Symposium
November 29, 2017
The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx NY
Sara Perl Egendorf
Ph.D Candidate
CUNY Graduate Center
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
2The Graduate Center of The City University of New York
3Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Department of Agriculture

2. Presentation Overview
Database interactive tour
Current updates
Consistency considerations
Future horizons

3. Phytoremediation Database Interactive Tour
Search by
Contaminant
Species
Keyword
Author

4. Phytoremediation Database Interactive Tour
Summary Reports
Contaminants listed alphabetically
Contaminants listed by category
References listed by ID / Author
References listed for each species
Species listed alphabetically
Species listed for each contaminant
Case studies

5. References for Species

6. Species for each Contaminant
181 Species for Pb in database
Import into excel
10 most frequently studied
Cynodon dactylon 7
Eichhornia crassipes
Phragmites australis
Typha latifolia 8
Zea mays 10
Armeria maritima 12
Thlaspi caerulescens 14
Salix 16
Helianthus annuus 17
Brassica juncea 26

7. 24 Long term Case Studies

8. Current Updates Cross-reference with USDA PLANTS database
1112 references currently in database
Data have now been gathered from ~500 additional peer reviewed articles
Aim to be updated and available by end of 2017
Will make available online
Aim to update interface

9. Consistency Considerations: Mechanisms
Description
Evapotranspiration (evap)
Evapotranspiration (ET) is the combination of the evaporation derived from the direct exposure of water to the atmosphere and the transpiration of soil moisture by plants.
Hydraulic Control (hc)
Hydraulic control is the use of plants to control the migration of subsurface water through the rapid uptake of large volumes of water by the plants. The plants are effectively acting as natural hydraulic pumps.
Multiple (mult)
Do not use.
Phytodegradation (phde)
Phytodegradation (Phytotransformation) is the ability of plants to produce the enzymes or cofactors necessary to degrade organic contaminants. In some cases, these catalysts may be exuded; therefore, phytodegradation is highly related to rhizodegradation.
Phytoextraction (phex)
Phytoextraction (phytoaccumulation) is the removal of inorganic contaminants from the surface-subsurface soil through plant uptake. This includes heavy metals, metalloids, radionuclides, and salts. During this process plant roots uptake metal contaminants.
Phytostabilization (phst)
Phytosequestration/Phytostabilisation is the precipitation or immobiliztion of inorganic contaminants in the soil, on the root surface, or within the root tissues.
Phytovolatilization (phvo)
Phytovolatilization is the process where plants uptake contaminaints which are water soluble and release them into the atmosphere as they transpire the water.
Rhizodegradation (rhde)
Rhizodegradation (also called enhanced rhizosphere biodegradation, phytostimulation, and plant assisted bioremediation) is the breakdown of organic contaminants in the soil by soil organisms which is enhanced by the rhizosphere's presence.
Rhizofiltration (rhfi)
Rhizofiltration (inorganics) is similar in concept to Phytoextraction but is concerned with the remediation of contaminated groundwater rather than the remediation of polluted soils.
Tolerance (tole)
Please use one of the other catagories in place of this
Unknown (unkn)
The mechanisim is not sufficently described to allow classification.

10. Consistency Considerations: Success Criteria
Current success criteria:
Not successful
Species does not attain phytoremediation goals
Conditionally successful
Species is successful in limited circumstances, or success is limited
Successful
Species fully attains phytoremediation goals
Insufficient Information
Research results are not sufficient to determine if the goals were met
Updates may include (when available):
Bioconcentration factors
[root]/[soil]
Translocation factors
[shoot]/[root]
Efficiency factors
[shoot]/[soil]
Dry weight tissue concentrations (ppm)
Soil or water concentrations pre and post study

11. Consistency Considerations
Soil amendments
Symbiotic relationships
Extent of original contamination
Distinguishing uptake vs. surface adherence
Soil chemical, physical, and biological parameters

12. Future Horizons Authors may be able to add own data from studies
How should ‘success criteria’ be shown in database?
What ideas or recommendations do you have?
How can the database be most useful?

13. Update of the USDA Phytoremediation Database
Thank you for your attention!
Update of the USDA Phytoremediation Database
Sara Perl Egendorf1,2, Zhongqi Cheng1,2, Donna Cao1, Anna Minsky1, Gerry Moore3
Google: KSU phytoremediation database
1Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Brooklyn College of the City University of New York
2The Graduate Center of The City University of New York
3Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA