International Journal of Farming and Allied Sciences Available online at www.ijfas.com ©2013 IJFAS Journal-2013-2-21/909-913 ISSN 2322-4134 ©2013 IJFAS Phytoremediation, a Method for Treatment of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminated Soils Azadeh Vaziri 1* , Ebrahim Panahpour 1 and Masoud Hossein Mirzaee Beni 2 1. Department of Soil Science, Science and Resarch Branch, Islamic Azad University)IAU), Khouzestan, Iran 2. Department of Agronomy, Khorasgan (Isfahan) Branch, Islamic Azad University)IAU),Isfahan, Iran Corresponding author: Azadeh Vaziri ABSTRACT: Petroleum hydrocarbons mostly contaminate environment due to inherent ability, such as solubility, volatility, and their biodegradable, they also identified toxic for animal. The petroleum has been released from an underground tank or refinery will likely be found in soils and possibly also in shallow groundwater and air that threaten health of human and environment. So the removal of these compounds from environment is vital. The stability of these pollutants at the soil and gradually accumulating over time disrupt the normal function of the soil, such as reduced agricultural capability. Phytoremediation describes the treatment of environmental problems (bioremediation) through the use of plants that mitigate the environmental problem without the need to excavate the contaminant material and dispose of it elsewhere. Phytoremediation consists of mitigating pollutant concentrations in contaminated soils, water, or air, with plants able to reduce or eliminate metals, pesticides, solvents, crude oil and its derivatives. In this study Phytoremediation method for treatment of polluted soil with petroleum hydrocarbon has been evaluated as well as its performance and efficiency. Keywords: Phytoremediation, Petrochemical Contaminants, Soil Microorganisms, Total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) INTRODUCTION Over Two million tons of oil produced in the world. Pollution of soil and groundwater resources with hydrocarbons around oil refineries and the vicinity of fuel transportation facilities are considerable challenge of environment pollution issue. Mentioned Petroleum hydrocarbons naturally are in various chemicals used by human activities such as fuel of vehicles and warming homes. Spilled and leaked Crude oil fill soil pores by moving vertically with capillary forces and gravity in the unsaturated soil. Large amount leakage can reach water level and then accumulated and move to groundwater as its specific gravity less than water will float in the water. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH S ) mostly contaminate environment due to inherent ability, such as solubility, volatility, and their biodegradable they also identified toxic for animal. The petroleum has been released from an underground tank or refinery will likely be found in soils and possibly also in shallow groundwater and air that threaten health of human and environment. So the removal of these compounds from environment is vital. So far, several physical, chemical and biological methods have been used to remedy oil polluted Soils. Crude oil is the most important environmental organic contaminants especially soil that causes cancer due to the toxic properties for living beings, particularly humans. So their entry into ecosystem is the most concern of the environmentalist (Anderson et al., 1993). However, this type of organic pollutants is stable and gradually accumulating in the soil over time disrupts the normal function of the soil such as reducing agricultural capability (Pulford, and Watson, 2003).