Heavy Metals in Soil: Assessment, Effects and Remediation Strategies

1. Vikas Thakur
   School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
2. Seema Singh
   School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
3. Sadhna Awasthi
   School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
4. Jitender Gairolla
   Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, India.
5. Amit Anthwal
   School of Applied and Life Sciences, Uttaranchal University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, India.
   Corresponding Author: anthwalamit1984@gmail.com.

Abstract

The industrialization and invention of new instruments and devices has resulted in use of heavy metals to large extent. The adverse effect of this comes from accumulation of heavy metals into ecosystem by various means. Some of the key reasons for accumulation of heavy metals into environment includes mining, industries processing metals, corrosion of devices and instruments when in use, leaching of metals by various environmental factors and disposal of electrical gadgets after use. These heavy metals by some or the other way enters soil and impose deteriorating effect on soil health that ultimately results in poor productivity from soil. Besides, entry of heavy metals into food chain is not only harmful for human beings but also for other living organisms. In current chapter we have focused on various sources of heavy metals, their harmful effects and restoration strategies which can be employed to improve soil quality.

Keywords: Toxic effects, Bioremediation, Metal mining, Physical remediation, phytoremediation, Chemical remediation.