Abstract
This paper revises the fundamental facts about potentially toxic elements belonging to the group of heavy metals. The study highlights the ongoing soil pollution status affected by these non-biodegradable elements, the basic characteristics of these metals that make them toxic, their mode of accumulation in different trophic levels, their toxic effect on human beings and the probable remediation technologies being used to remediate soils contaminated with heavy metal when the pollution problem has evolved. The technologies focused on solidification, soil washing, soil flushing, electro-kinetic remediation and phytoremediation are presented. The choice of the technology to be used for remediation depends on the condition of the soil and the extent of contamination. Conventional electro-kinetics is the most effective and rapid technology, but on the scale of ecosystem restoration, phytoremediation is an eco-friendly, green and cost-effective solution.
Highlights
Soil pollution and its present statusSoil is a complex structure which is made up of organic and inorganic matter
The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that a major portion of almost 80 % of industrial effluent and sewage waste is mixed with freshwater [9]
Continuous ignorant consumption of heavy-metal-rich vegetation grown near the source of pollution by residents causes a lot of health issues, and analysis of their blood will show a high concentration of heavy metals circulating in their systems, targeting sensitive tissues and organelles and resulting in their distorted functioning [17, 18]
Summary
Soil is a complex structure which is made up of organic and inorganic matter. It balances the influx and efflux of several components via nutritive cycles allowing cooperative sustenance of several organisms on it [1]. Further extracted by the plants growing over it, causing phytotoxicity to intolerant plant species and eventually entering the bodies of herbivores that feed on them, causing in turn various health ailments to organisms [4]. The metal poisoning reported till date have mainly focused on lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), mercury (Hg), zinc (Zn) and manganese (Mn). Some of these metals act as essential nutrients, but when their doses exceed the tolerance limits for the organisms the toxicity symptoms become evident
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