rees and lettingthem grow. Additional studies showed that the trees did not release TCE into the air, as nomeasurable TCE was present in the air immediately surrounding the leaves (captured in smallleaf bags and analyzed) or in the general atmosphere (using a laser technology that can see TCEin the air in the tree canopy) (Hecht, 1998). Phytoremediation is an aesthetically pleasing, solar-energy driven, and passive techniquethat can be used at sites with low to moderate levels of contamination. Phytoremediation is morethan just planting and letting the foliage grow; the site must be engineered to prevent erosion andflooding and maximize pollutant uptake. Currently, the majority of research is concentrated ondetermining the best plant for the job, quantifying the mechanisms by which the plants convertpollutants, and determining which contaminants are amenable to phytoremediation. Pollutedsites are being studied, and phytoremediation looks promising for a variety of contaminants. ...
