Abstract

Urban soil contamination, driven by industrial activities, vehicular emissions, and waste disposal, poses significant risks to human health and ecosystems. This study investigates phytoremediation as a sustainable strategy to remediate heavy metal-contaminated urban soils in a 10-hectare industrial site in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Three plant species—Helianthus annuus (sunflower), Brassica juncea (Indian mustard), and Populus deltoides (poplar)—were evaluated for their ability to uptake lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), and zinc (Zn). Soil samples (n=100) and plant tissues were analyzed, showing Pb concentrations reduced by 35% (sunflower), 28% (mustard), and 42% (poplar) after two years. Phytoextraction efficiency was highest for poplar, with a bioaccumulation factor (BAF) of 2.8 for Zn. Machine learning models (Random Forest and Support Vector Machine) predicted contamination hotspots with 85% accuracy. The study highlights phytoremediation’s potential as a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution for urban soil restoration, with implications for sustainable urban planning.