GUIDI NISSIM WERTHER

My research interest is in multifunctional use of plants for phytoremediation, an environmentally friendly technique used to decontaminate polluted soils and waters of heavy metals, organic contaminants and mineral nutrients using plants.

In the last few years my research is focusing on the role of phytoremediation as an active component of urban landscaping process in degraded areas. I am particularly interested in the additional environmental (i.e., beyond soil cleansing) and social benefits associated with this technology, including the technical constraints and knowledge gaps that should be further addressed to make this technique efficient on a larger scale.

The use of trees for the reclamation of brownfields shows several benefits in addition to depollution. Most tree species used for phytoremediation may actively reduce the volume of stormwater runoff and mitigate the risk of local flooding events. They can actively contribute to CO₂ sequestration and function as highly aesthetic living barriers for noise and air pollution attenuation. Some uncertainties associated with the use of this reclamation technique in urban areas (i.e., BVOC emission, pollen production) still need to be addressed. Nevertheless, within the large family of green technologies, phytoremediation has huge potential to be used as an effective tool for the cleanup of contaminated urban brownfields, thus contributing to the development of more sustainable modern towns.