The Search for Potential Remediation Strategies and Sustainable Alternatives for Safe use of US EPA Superfund Sites

Background: Environmental contamination from US EPA Superfund sites has long posed a serious threat to public health and environmental sustainability. Increased environmental risk in areas near US EPA Superfund sites is evidenced by studies that have found that these areas are characterized by higher levels of toxic substances in the soil and air. Addressing the hazards these sites pose requires thoughtful planning and creative approaches that balance environmental restoration with community development goals. Reclaiming abandoned industrial and mining sites is imperative because it is an opportunity to enhance public safety, restore ecosystems and support communities. Objectives: The study aims to identify the best biological remediation methods for contaminated sites, with a particular focus on the most common contaminants documented in the US EPA Superfund site database. The study also aims to develop potential strategies to improve the environmental safety of the US EPA Superfund site. Methods: The current study is based on peer-reviewed articles published in English over a 10-year period from January 2014 to December 2023 indexed in the abstract databases Scopus, Google Scholar and PubMed (NCBI). A combination of relevant keywords was used to search for sources. Publications selected for research review were not limited to any particular geographic location of US EPA Superfund sites or investigators. Results: The most frequently studied pollutants (in descending order of frequency of mention in scientific studies) were polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), heavy metals, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -furans (PCDD/Fs) etc. The largest number of publications aimed at restoring US EPA Superfund lands using biological methods occurred in the period 2016–2018, with bioremediation, biosparging and phytoremediation leading among the biological techniques used. A detailed analysis of the studies found showed that these results were consistent with each other, since it was the most frequently studied methods that were used to remove the pollutants in question. Conclusion: By equipping bioremediation approaches with essential components, this resource enables swift and effective responses to pollution incidents, minimizing potential adverse impacts on public health, waterways, and groundwater systems caused by industrial and human activities. Combining biological approaches with robust risk mitigation strategies can further enhance environmental protection and safeguard nearby populations. The provided concentrated information on various biological remediation practices, which are classified based on certain criteria, forms the basis of a strategy to improve environmental safety and implement sustainable alternatives for safe use of previously contaminated sites.