Integrated approaches to mitigate threats from emerging potentially toxic elements: A way forward for sustainable environmental management

Environ Res. 2022 Jun:209:112844. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112844. Epub 2022 Jan 29.

Abstract

Potentially toxic elements (PTEs) such as toxic metal (loid)s and other emerging hazardous contaminants, exist in the environment and poses a serious threat. A large amount of wastewater containing PTEs such as cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, arsenic, lead, zinc, etc. Release from industries during production process. Besides these, chemical-based fertilizers used in soils during crop production have become one of the crucial sources of PTEs. Various techniques are being employed for the mitigation of PTEs like chemical precipitation, ion exchange, coagulation, activated carbon, adsorption, membrane filtration, and bioremediation. Among these mitigation strategies, biological processes such as bioremediation, phytoremediation etc. Are extensively used, as they are economic have high-efficiency rate and are eco-friendly. This review intends to provide information on PTEs contamination through various sources; along with the toxicity of metal (loid)s with respect to their patterns of transmission and risks in the changing environment. Various remediation methods for the management of these pollutants along with their techno-economic perspective are also summarized in this review.

Keywords: Activated carbon; Adsorption; Heavy metal resistance; Ion exchange; Phytoremediation.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Cadmium / analysis
  • Cadmium / toxicity
  • Environmental Pollutants / toxicity
  • Environmental Pollution / adverse effects
  • Metals / toxicity
  • Metals, Heavy* / analysis
  • Metals, Heavy* / toxicity
  • Soil / chemistry
  • Soil Pollutants* / analysis
  • Soil Pollutants* / toxicity
  • Wastewater / toxicity

Substances

  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Metals
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Soil
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Waste Water
  • Cadmium