Microbial bioremediation as a tool for the removal of heavy metals

Abstract

The world accelerated industrial revolution and the uses of natural resources during metal mining and industry have a great impact on the environment due to heavy metal pollution. Today, one of the most destructive effects facing the world is the contamination with heavy metals, which reaches the air, soil, and water (Asha and Sandeep 2013; Raghunandan et al. 2014, 2018). Although trace concentrations of some metals have a vital effect on the health of living organisms, high levels of heavy metals represent toxic effects too (Ahemad 2019; Ahuti 2015). Also, heavy metals can hardly be degraded in the soil, so their complete detoxification represents a challenge to scientists. Despite the efforts spent to tackle the environmental pollution issue, the world still suffers from the hazardous effects of heavy metals, and so a new technology should be discovered to contain the disaster of heavy metal contamination, one of which is the bioremediation