Chromium dynamics in soil and detoxification of chromite belts using rhizospheric soil–plant interface

The chromium-contaminated soil expresses its severe eco-toxicity on living organisms of the locality and adjoining regions. This review has focused on the chemical interactions of chromium variants in soil and the sequestration of chromium using the soil–plant interface in the rhizosphere. The application of plant hyper-accumulators on chromium-contaminated soil for chromium sequestration is an attempt to minimize chromium toxicity of mining and industrial belts. This review utilized the PRISMA 2009 systematic review methodology. The literature screening was conducted by searching databases such as Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science up to 2025 using specific keywords. In countries like Kazakhstan, South Africa, and India, more than 90% of world shipping-grade mine reserves of chromium are present. The mining and metallurgy of chromium can threaten the environmental quality and the region’s public health. The Sukinda chromite mines in India are globally known for their rich chromite mining, metallurgy, and eco-toxicity. The present article analyzes the ecological challenges and searches for possible interactions of chromium variants in soil. The solution to mitigate chromium toxicity is possible using the rhizospheric soil–plant interface. This article’s findings and discussion section help solve ecological challenges and strive for healthy soil at chromium-polluted sites. This review article can contribute to sustainable soil quality improvement at mining and industrial belts. Further research on the isotopic tracer technique is recommended to enhance the understanding of chromium dynamics in soil.

Graphical Abstract