scholarly journals Heavy Metal Polluted Soils: Effect on Plants and Bioremediation Methods

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. U. Chibuike ◽  
S. C. Obiora

Soils polluted with heavy metals have become common across the globe due to increase in geologic and anthropogenic activities. Plants growing on these soils show a reduction in growth, performance, and yield. Bioremediation is an effective method of treating heavy metal polluted soils. It is a widely accepted method that is mostly carried outin situ; hence it is suitable for the establishment/reestablishment of crops on treated soils. Microorganisms and plants employ different mechanisms for the bioremediation of polluted soils. Using plants for the treatment of polluted soils is a more common approach in the bioremediation of heavy metal polluted soils. Combining both microorganisms and plants is an approach to bioremediation that ensures a more efficient clean-up of heavy metal polluted soils. However, success of this approach largely depends on the species of organisms involved in the process.

Solid Earth ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Paz-Ferreiro ◽  
H. Lu ◽  
S. Fu ◽  
A. Méndez ◽  
G. Gascó

Abstract. Anthropogenic activities are resulting in an increase of the use and extraction of heavy metals. Heavy metals cannot be degraded and hence accumulate in the environment, having the potential to contaminate the food chain. This pollution threatens soil quality, plant survival and human health. The remediation of heavy metals deserves attention, but it is impaired by the cost of these processes. Phytoremediation and biochar are two sound environmental technologies which could be at the forefront to mitigate soil pollution. This review provides an overview of the state of the art of the scientific research on phytoremediation and biochar application to remediate heavy-metal-contaminated soils. Research to date has attempted only in a limited number of occasions to combine both techniques, however we discuss the potential advantages of combining both, and the potential mechanisms involved in the interaction between phytoremediators and biochar. We identified specific research needs to ensure a sustainable use of phytoremediation and biochar as remediation tools.


2017 ◽  
Vol 18 ◽  
pp. 01022
Author(s):  
Săndica Liliana Gherghe ◽  
Ildiko Anger ◽  
Georgiana Moise ◽  
Roxana Trusca

This article presents the characterization of the Romanian bentonite and fly ash, using different techniques: FAAS, XRD, FT-IR, SEM and EDAX and their evaluation as sorbents for heavy metals immobilization in polluted soils coming from mining and metallurgical activities. The applicability of bentonite and fly ash for Pb (II) and Zn (II) immobilization was studied using aqueous solutions of these metals. The influence of the pH and contact time were studied. The results shown that the Romanian bentonite and fly ash could be used for Pb (II) and Zn (II) immobilization in polluted soils from brownfields.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 2155-2179 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Paz-Ferreiro ◽  
H. Lu ◽  
S. Fu ◽  
A. Méndez ◽  
G. Gascó

Abstract. Anthropogenic activities are resulting in an increase on the use and extraction of heavy metals. Heavy metals cannot be degraded and hence accumulate in the environment having the potential to contaminate the food chain. This pollution threatens soil quality, plant survival and human health. The remediation of heavy metals deserves attention, but it is impaired by the cost of these processes. Phytoremediation and biochar are two sound environmental technologies which could be at the forefront to mitigate soil pollution. This review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge phytoremediation and biochar application to remediate heavy metal contaminated soils, discussing the advantages and disadvantages of both individual approaches. Research to date has attempted only in a limited number of occasions to combine both techniques, however we discuss the potential advantages of combining both remediation techniques and the potential mechanisms involved in the interaction between phytoremediators and biochar. We identified specific research needs to ensure a sustainable use of phytoremediation and biochar as remediation tools.


2021 ◽  
Vol 889 (1) ◽  
pp. 012062
Author(s):  
Manmeet Kaur ◽  
Akriti Sharma ◽  
Aditya

Abstract Pollutants in the environment remains to be a global issue and among the greatest challenges confronting mankind. Among the various kinds of pollutants, heavy metals have drawn a lot of attention owing to their toxicity. Heavy metals are recognized to be naturally existing, however they are introduced in considerable quantities in many environmental compartments due to anthropogenic activities. When added into the atmosphere eventually these find their way back to the ground, contaminating soils and water. These metals enter into the plant system through a variety of physiological mechanisms, affecting plant growth and development. The possible entry of these elements into the ecosystem has been attributed to the increased levels of heavy metals in the ecosystem through direct intake from polluted soils, vegetables grown on polluted soils, or drinking wastewater that has infiltrated through such soils. Heavy metal accumulation arises when vegetable crops are grown in an environment contaminated with heavy metal, further entering and magnifying in the food chain. Human health is jeopardised by the presence and consumption of potentially harmful heavy metals in biota and groundwater. Heavy metal exposure can cause a number of serious human health implications, including kidney disease, respiratory problems, neurological disorders, and cancer. These heavy metals have an impact not merely on plants and humans, but also on soil health, water sources, soil nutrient status, and other aquatic organisms. These are irreversibly introduced in the environment since they cannot be degraded and are typically present in trace amounts, yet even at low levels, many of them can be harmful. The increased levels of heavy metals in the environment are hence currently prompting increased concern and need improvised remedial measures.


2000 ◽  
Vol 42 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 335-343 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Shiba ◽  
S. Hino ◽  
Y. Hirata ◽  
T. Seno

The operational variables of electrokinetic remediation have not been cleared yet, because this method is relatively new and is an innovative technique in the aquifer remediation. In order to investigate the operational variables of the electrokinetic remediation, a mathematical model has been constructed based on the physico chemical mass transport process of heavy metals in pore water of contaminated aquifer. The transport of the heavy metals is driven not only by the hydraulic flow due to the injection of the purge water but also by the electromigration due to the application of the electric potential gradient. The electric potential between anode and cathode is the important operational variable for the electrokinetic remediation. From the numerical simulations with use of this model it is confirmed that the remediation starts from the up stream anode and gradually the heavy metal is transported to the down stream cathode and drawn out through the purge water.


2011 ◽  
Vol 138-139 ◽  
pp. 1149-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi Dong Guan ◽  
Ye Hong Du ◽  
Zhen Dong Li ◽  
An Cheng Luo

This paper reports the concentration of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) in the soils and rices surrounding the abandoned rural waste dumping sites in Ningbo. Igeo (geoaccumulation index) was calculated to assess the contamination degree of heavy metals in soils. The mean contents of Cr, Cu, Cd, Zn and Pb of soils were 33.3, 24.1, 1.5, 118.9 and 45.6 mg/(kg DW) (dry weight), respectively. All of them were much higher than that of the reference value (i.e. CK), but there were no coherent trend of the metal contents within 1-120m distance from the dumping site. Igeo of heavy metals reveals the order of Cd>Cu>Cr>Pb>Zn, and the contamination assessment of soils using Igeo indicate the moderate Cd pollution, while the soils were unpolluted-moderately overall by Cr, Cu, Zn as well as Pb. The heavy metal contents in root, stem & leaf and rice grains were all remarkable higher than that of the CK at 20-120 m distances, and the heavy metal contents in root were evidently much higher than other plant parts, while those in rice grain were lowest, indicating the great bioaccumulation trend of heavy metals. Although the metal contents in the rice grain were within the legislation limit, its bioaccumulation trend of heavy metals was remarkable, whose contents were 4.38-fold for Cr, 1.76-fold for Cu, 1.28-fold for Zn, 2.67-fold for Cd and 3.03-fold for Pb higher than that of reference value, respectively. Finally, we proposed a decentralized in-situ restoration approach for the dumping sites.


Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1608
Author(s):  
Aslihan Esringü ◽  
Metin Turan ◽  
Asli Cangönül

Heavy metal pollution is among the important environmental problems in the world. Many techniques have already been used to remove the heavy metals such as lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd). Among them, the phytoremediation method is an environmentally friendly and green technology. This study was carried out to determine the efficiency of fulvic acid (FA) application in removing Pb and Cd from polluted soil using Tagetes eracta L. and Zinnia elegans Jacq. ornamental plants. The results indicated that, FA application, number of flower per plants, and plant fresh weight of Tagetes eracta plants and Zinnia elegans plants increased 187.5%, 104.5% and 155.5%, 57.7%, respectively with application of 7000 mg L−1 FA at 100 mg kg−1 Pb pollution condition, whereas 42.85%, 16.5%, and 44.4–36.1% with application of 7000 mg L−1 FA at 30 mg kg±1 Cd pollution condition, respectively. With the FA application in the Zinnia elegans plant, the root part has accumulated 51.53% more Pb than the shoot part. For Cd, the shoot part accumulated 35.33% more Cd than the root. The effect of FA application on superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD) and, catalase (CAT) of the Tagetes eracta were decreased as 32.7%, 33.1%, and 35.1% for Pb, 21.2%, 25.1%, and 26,1%, for Cd, and 15.1%, 22.7%, and 37.7% for Pb, and 7.55%, 18.0%, and 18.8% for Cd were in Zinnia elegans respectively. In conclusion, Tagetes eracta and Zinnia elegans can not be recommended for remediation of Pb and Cd polluted area, but FA can be recommended for Pb and Cd stabilization in polluted soil.


Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 896 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shafaqat Ali ◽  
Zohaib Abbas ◽  
Mahmoud F. Seleiman ◽  
Muhammad Rizwan ◽  
İlkay YAVAŞ ◽  
...  

Unexpected biomagnifications and bioaccumulation of heavy metals (HMs) in the surrounding environment has become a predicament for all living organisms together with plants. Excessive release of HMs from industrial discharge and other anthropogenic activities has threatened sustainable agricultural practices and limited the overall profitable yield of different plants species. Heavy metals at toxic levels interact with cellular molecules, leading towards the unnecessary generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), restricting productivity and growth of the plants. The application of various osmoprotectants is a renowned approach to mitigate the harmful effects of HMs on plants. In this review, the effective role of glycine betaine (GB) in alleviation of HM stress is summarized. Glycine betaine is very important osmoregulator, and its level varies considerably among different plants. Application of GB on plants under HMs stress successfully improves growth, photosynthesis, antioxidant enzymes activities, nutrients uptake, and minimizes excessive heavy metal uptake and oxidative stress. Moreover, GB activates the adjustment of glutathione reductase (GR), ascorbic acid (AsA) and glutathione (GSH) contents in plants under HM stress. Excessive accumulation of GB through the utilization of a genetic engineering approach can successfully enhance tolerance against stress, which is considered an important feature that needs to be investigated in depth.


2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (14) ◽  
pp. 71-83
Author(s):  
Omolara Titilayo Aladesanmi ◽  
Femi Kayode Agboola ◽  
Rapheal Emuebe Okonji

Background. Many natural aquatic bodies have been contaminated with heavy metals released from domestic, industrial and other anthropogenic activities. Fish are an important bioindicator species and play an important role in the monitoring of water pollution. Objectives. This study shows the effect of heavy metals on the distribution of glutathione S-transferases (GST), catalase, rhodanese and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulphur transferase (3-MST) isolated from the liver, gills, fins and muscle of Clarias gariepinus. Methods . Glutathione S-transferase, catalase, rhodanese and 3-mercaptopyruvate S-transferase enzymes were isolated from the liver and gills of fish by homogenization of each tissue (with specific buffers for each enzyme) and centrifugation. Serial dilutions of the crude enzymes were then assayed for residual enzymatic activities using standard enzyme assay protocol. Results. The results showed heavy metals in the liver and muscle of the investigated fish. This study indicated significant accumulation of heavy metals in the tissues/organ of the fish from Ilesha, Osogbo and Yakoyo fish ponds. These are three main towns in Osun State where the major occupation is fish farming. The relationship between enzymatic activities and heavy metal content in C gariepinus tissue showed positive and significant (p<0.05) correlations between lead (Pb) and GST as well as chromium (Cr) and GST. This implies that higher concentrations of Pb and Cr induced the expression of greater GST activity in the fish tissue. Conclusions. The study concluded that the pattern of response of GST, catalase, rhodanese and 3-MST activities in the various organs/tissues of C gariepinus to the heavy metals suggests that the excitation or inhibitions of their activities are organ specific. Further biochemical studies of fish tissues/organs are needed to characterize the enzymatic changes associated with heavy metal pollution. Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interests


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abolghassem Emamverdian ◽  
Yulong Ding ◽  
Yinfeng Xie ◽  
Sirous Sangari

The increased contaminants caused by anthropogenic activities in the environment and the importance of finding pathways to reduce pollution caused the silicon application to be considered an important detoxification agent. Silicon, as a beneficial element, plays an important role in amelioration of abiotic stress, such as an extreme dose of heavy metal in plants. There are several mechanisms involved in silicon mediation in plants, including the reduction of heavy metal uptake by plants, changing pH value, formation of Si heavy metals, and stimulation of enzyme activity, which can work by chemical and physical pathways. The aim of this paper is to investigate the major silicon-related mechanisms that reduce the toxicity of heavy metals in plants and then to assess the role of silicon in increasing the antioxidant enzyme and nonenzyme activities to protect the plant cell.


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