en تخصصي Special پژوهشي Research Article <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:16.0pt"><span new="" roman="" style="font-family:" times=""><span style="font-size:9.0pt">The rapid industrial development and agricultural growth and the indiscriminate production of pollutants have faced problems for human societies and the environment</span><span dir="RTL" lang="FA" style="font-size:9.0pt">. </span><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Accumulation and pollution of heavy metals in the environment are the main important problems that as a result of human activities through extraction from ore and processing for various applications has led to the release of these elements in the environment.</span> <span style="font-size:9.0pt">Heavy metals are non-biodegradable, so they could accumulate in the environment and subsequently contaminate the food chain.</span> <span style="font-size:9.0pt">Some heavy metals are known as carcinogens, endocrine disruptors and mutagens, and this is a serious threat for human health.</span> <span style="font-size:9.0pt">Therefore, today, the removal of heavy metal pollutions from the environment has been received special attention by researchers.</span> <span style="font-size:9.0pt">In the application of physicochemical methods for this purpose, there will be serious limitations such as the need for chemical substances, high cost, the need for specialized equipment and skills, changes in soil characteristics, and disruption of native soil microflora. In contrast, phytoremediation is a better solution to the problem.</span> <span style="font-size:9.0pt">The use of plants and natural soil microbes to reduce the concentration or toxic effects of pollutants in the environment is called phytoremediation.</span> <span style="font-size:9.0pt">It is considered as a cost-effective, efficient, new, environmentally friendly and highly adoptable technology. New efficient metal superaccumulator plants are being investigated for applications in phytoremediation and plant extraction. This review article comprehensively discusses the background, concepts, processes and mechanisms in plant remediation of heavy metals.</span><span dir="RTL" style="font-size:9.0pt" lang="FA"></span></span></span></span> Environmental pollution, Heavy metals, Phytoremediation, Environmentally friendly 10 23 http://hsm.umsu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-80-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Ehsan Shamoogardiani shamoogardianiehsan@gmail.com 10031947532846001474 1111-1111-1111-1111 No Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran Nahid Navidjouy n.navidjouy@gmail.com 10031947532846001475 10031947532846001475 Yes Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran