Explosive chemicals that contaminate groundwater and soil—at ammunition-production and military-training sites—are toxic to many microorganisms, mammals and plants. However, some plant species have the ability to remove and transform them into less harmful compounds. However, genetic and biochemical studies of pathways that transform explosives and development of transgenic plants for phytoremediation purposes are required since explosive compounds assimilated by plants can be released from the tissues by action of water, e.g. rain and runoff, and thus may be returned to the environment as hazardous contaminants; research is required on post-harvest fate.