Arsenic transformations in the soil–rhizosphere–plant system: fundamentals and potential application to phytoremediation

This paper reviews major processes that potentially affect the fate of arsenic in the rhizosphere of plants. Rhizosphere interactions are deemed to play a key role in controlling bioavailability to crop plants and for a better understanding and improvement of phytoremediation technologies. Substantial progress has been made towards an understanding of As transformation processes in soils. However, virtually no information is available that directly addresses the fate of As in the rhizosphere. We are proposing a conceptual model of the fate of As in the soil–rhizosphere–plant system by integrating the state-of-the art knowledge available in the contributing disciplines. Using this model and recent studies on hyperaccumulation of As, we discuss research needs and the potential application of rhizosphere processes to the development of phytoremediation technologies for As-polluted soils.