Biodegradação e biorremediação de metais pesados

Abstract

Heavy metal contamination is a phenomenon that has gained importance and that is worth to be investigated because of the risks that it represents to the ecosystem and human health.With the steady increase in extraction and inadequate deposit of metal tailings, environmental and public health problems arise that have worsened over the years in Brazil.The release of these toxic residues reaches important water courses, leading to contamination of both water and food.Contamination also leads to metabolic changes in animals, plants and microorganisms, and can trigger mutations leading to mutagenesis and carcinogenesis.The effects can be potentiated when combined with other metals, undergoing bioaccumulation at different trophic levels.To remedy or minimize all these risks, knowledge about these pollutants is necessary.Therefore, this work proposes a literature review about the main heavy metals and their effects on the environment.