Phyto-Mycoremediation Study in Los Angeles

For my PhD research I am working with the City of Los Angeles, Sustainable Brownfields Program, the Department of Toxic Substances Control and several community land trusts to test a soil clean up method involving native plants and fungi in a 1-year research field study launching this winter. Species selection is based on a previous study in which we found that some plants and fungi growing naturally on contaminated sites around Los Angeles take up metals such as lead and cadmium from the soil, where they can then be safely removed, and fungi help these plants survive in contaminated soils and may also break down contaminants like diesel and PAH’s like benzo(a)pyrene, turning them into safe clean soil. These plants and fungi have been planted at 3 contaminated sites (known as brownfields) across greater Los Angeles, including Taylor Yard (pictured to the right), Slauson and Wall and LA Ecovillage, and monitored to see how well they clean the soil.

Since this natural type of remediation may be less costly than conventional remediation and is also better for the environment, it could be a way to clean up more sites more quickly in greater Los Angeles without less soil disturbance having to disturb the soil.

Find out more: https://phyto-myco-remediation.ucr.edu/