Heavy Metal Remediation

Abstract

Heavy metals constitute a group of naturally occurring ill-defined subset of metals and metalloids that have high atomic weights ranging from 63.5 to 200.6 g/mol and densities greater than 5 g/cm3. Although many heavy metals are required by living forms for their survival, heavy metal toxicity is also of immense health and environmental concern since heavy metals are nondegradable and have a tendency of bioaccumulation along the food chain. Long-term exposure to heavy metals of their salts leads to progressive physical, muscular, and neurological degenerative processes that constitutes a significant risk to public health. Microbes like bacteria, fungi, algae and yeast also play a crucial role in the bioremediation of heavy metals since they have the capability to endure metal toxicity utilizing different metabolic processes. In this chapter, we have discussed the potential of microorganisms like microalgae, fungi, yeast and bacteria for cleaning of heavy metal-contaminated sites.