Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Sydney, 1995. / Title from title screen (viewed October 21, 2009) Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy to the Dept. of History, Faculty of Arts. Degree awarded 1995; thesis submitted 1994. Includes bibliographical references. Also available in print form.

Phytoremediation is an innovative technology employing plants for reclamation of soils that have been polluted by industrial contaminants. While it is frequently slower than traditional physicochemical remediation techniques, there are, however, many significant advantages including simplicity, low cost, improvement of soil structure and microbiological fertility. While various hyperaccumulators have been reported from Europe and the USA, there is a need to identify Australian species. This study reports a number of metal accumulators following a soil and vegetation survey of two metal contaminated sites in New South Wales, the spoil (filtercake) heaps of the BHP (Broken Hill Propriety ) steelworks at Port Kembla and the abandoned mine at Sunny Corner. BHP is the largest manufacturer of steel in Australia. The Port Kembla is the largest single steel manufacturing site. Solid by-products from this site totalled 3.1 million tons in 1988. The Sunny Corner mine site was mainly a silver mine which operated over approximately 100 hectares 1184 to 1922 and produced over 100 tonnes of silver during that period. The soil and water in and around the site is heavily contaminated with metals and is distinctly acidic. It was concluded that Ricinus communis, Sonchus oleraceus, baeckea utilis, Poa labillardieri and Pinus radiata are options for heavy metal phytoremediation of contaminated Australian soils. Arbuscular Mycorrhizal infection (particular with Glomus and Gigaspora strains) should be promoted for optimum growth. / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)