Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 18, Issue 02 | June 21, 2021

Policy Memo: Phytoremediation Strategies for United Kingdom River Health in the Flood of Climate Change

Bailey McCarthy Riley (1), John F. Malloy (2), Stephanie Piper (3), Theresa La (4)

  1. Wayne State University, Department of Chemistry, 5101 Cass Ave, Detroit, MI
  2. Arizona State University, School of Earth and Space Exploration, 781 Terrace Mall, Tempe, AZ
  3. University of California, Riverside, Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, 900 University Ave, Riverside, CA
  4. Case Western Reserve University, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, 2210 Circle Dr Robbins Building, Cleveland, OH

Corresponding author: [email protected]
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https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG180209
Keywords: phytoremediation; rivers; nature-based; plants; community-based; UK; climate
Executive Summary: Industrialization and urbanization in the United Kingdom has led to practices that impact the quality of their river systems. In a recent 2020 report, 0% of rivers in England meet the current criteria of ‘good health’. Climate change will increase the frequency of flooding and compound this alarming issue. Phytoremediation is a nature-based strategy that employs the use of plants to uptake waste materials such as heavy metals and antibiotic waste. Here, we recommend UK counties use phytoremediation-based strategies in conjunction with community involvement to improve river quality and make communities around river systems more resilient against the impacts of climate change.

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Bailey McCarthy Riley is an Analytical Chemistry PhD candidate at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan. Her work develops microfluidic devices for the detection of ultralow concentration analytes with a focus towards diagnostic and pharmaceutical quality control applications. She is a member of the Detroit Science Policy Network and a National Science Policy Network SciPol Scholars fellow at Annual Reviews, where she translates review articles to science policy.
 
John Malloy (he/him) is a PhD candidate studying Astrobiology and Complex Systems Science at Arizona State University. He studies the fundamental nature and definition of life, both on Earth and on other planets, through exploring the evolution of biochemistry and life-like chemical systems. He is working to predict future evolutionary steps and create a universal definition of evolution. He is also a member of the Arizona Science Policy Network, where he works to advance science-based policy measures in Arizona. He enjoys training for and competing in ultramarathons across the American Southwest.
 
Stephanie Piper is a fourth-year PhD candidate at University of California, Riverside in the Department of Botany and Plant Sciences studying urban atmospheric nitrogen and the roles plants play. She is the current co-chair of UCR Science to Policy and is a policy fellow in the California Assembly Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife focused on community engagement in the Salton Sea.
 
Theresa La is a current second-year MSMP student at Case Western Reserve University. Her research focuses on health disparities, particularly in immigrant communities and elderly population. She is founder of the Union of Concerned Scientist Orange County Team where she organizes local scientists for policy advocacy.
 
 
Acknowledgments
Thank you, Christopher Jackson, Sindhu Nathan, Fiona Dunn, Rachel Starr, and Meredith Ward, for edits. Also, thank you William Ota for organizing a collection of early career scientists interested in proposing and implementing policy-based solutions to climate change.
DISCLAIMER: The findings and conclusions published herein are solely attributed to the author and not necessarily endorsed or adopted by the Journal of Science Policy and Governance or issue partners/sponsors. Articles are distributed in compliance with copyright and trademark agreements.

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