Recent trends on bioremediation of heavy metals; an insight with reference to the potential of marine microbes

Heavy metals are essential for the survival of all living organisms in trace amounts. Industrializations and urbanisation are the two major rationale behind the massive rise in the contamination of land and water bodies including marine and freshwater. The major sources of heavy metal are coal burning, smelting operations, tanneries, waste incineration, pesticides, fungicides, metallurgy, etc. Due to the toxicity of heavy metals when living beings encounter contaminated water of sediment laden with heavy metal endure health hazards. Heavy metals and metalloids such as chromium, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, and cobalt are poisonous and carcinogenic even in minute amounts, posing a major threat to human life. The most sustainable approach towards remediating these heavy metals is bioremediation. It involves bacterial bioremediation, fungal, biofilms and phytoremediation, which is not only sustainable but also efficient and cost effective. This review delivers a comprehensive overview of the recent trends in bioremediation of heavy metals, their sources, toxicity, and alternative approach of using marine microbes and their pottential for remediation of heavy metals.