Phytoremediation of Lebanese polluted waters: a review of current initiatives

Water pollution is presently considered as a serious apprehension in Lebanon. Heavy contamination load of nutrients, heavy metals and organic pollutants can be highly harmful for human health and detrimental to aquatic life and ecosystems. Phytoremediation in natural and constructed wetlands using aquatic macrophytes present a sustainable plant-based technology recognized as a very efficient option in water treatment. The employment of species such as Phragmites, Sparganium, Lemna sp and other aquatic macrophytes not only helps in pollution cleanup but also conserves aquatic communities. To date, two pilot constructed wetlands, Litani River and Bcharreh have been established in Lebanon. These promising initiatives have been, however, accompanied with very limited research studies to examine the role of utilized plants and their efficiency in the remediation process. This paper presents an overview of the status of these initiatives and phytoremediation potential in Lebanon.