Bioremediation: A favorable perspective to eliminate heavy metals from polluted soil

The heavy metal contamination in the environment causes serious risk and long-term lethal effects to all living organisms due to their ability to show toxicity at low concentrations. The bio-magnification of heavy metals in the food chain is a matter of concern for public health. The persistent exposure to heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and uranium (U) cause several pathologic conditions in humans by interfering with normal cellular processes. Due to the non-biodegradable nature of these pollutants, they get accumulated for a long time in the soil. The removal of these pollutants by conventional methods is not satisfactory due to the high cost and generation of huge quantities of waste products. Hence, the use of micro-organisms is the most successful approach to remediate heavy metals from the environment due to their efficacy and financial viability. Numerous microorganisms have been employed to diminish the toxic effects of heavy metals. The combination of microorganisms and plants as a bioremediation strategy is another efficient method for heavy metal bioremediation. The chapter will summarize the heavy metal exploitation with a focus on Cd, As, Pb, and Chromium (Cr). It will also describe the various bioremediation techniques which are being used in the removal of these heavy metals from soil.