Chapter 17 - Biological based methods for the removal of volatile organic compounds and heavy metals

Abstract

The increased industrial activities and migration of more and more population from rural to urban areas have led to significant change in structure and function of the ecosystem. The major consequence of these activities is in the form of environmental pollution. At present time all the flora and fauna are at risk because of high level of air, water and soil pollution along with many other forms. The hazardous toxic pollutants include a variety of organic and inorganic compounds, which possess extremely serious threat to all life forms. Volatile organic compounds and heavy metals are among the most toxic pollutants and detrimental to humans and ecosystem. In present book chapter, authors review the potential biological methods efficiently used to remove and detoxify VOCs and heavy metals from polluted sites.