Chromium & Lead as Soil Pollutants: Insights on Toxicity Profiles and their Remediation

Abstract

This is an insight on induced toxicity and remediation of heavy metals chromium and lead as the prominent soil pollutant. Chromium and lead both are used in many industries viz; leather, chemicals, metal finishing, paint, pigment manufacturing, stainless steel production, anti-corrosive, textile, tanning, electroplating, wood-preservation, photography and process effluents. Low Cr3+ level is vital for metabolism, while Cr6+ is fatal, toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic to many bacteria, plants and animals besides water soluble at all pH. Chromium toxicity causes cardiac troubles, metabolic dysfunction, and diabetic. The heavy metal contaminations due to Cr (VI) and Lead (II) become fatal environment by virtue of toxic and detrimental effects beside accumulation throughout food chain. Cr (VI) and Lead (II) pollutants are toxic and non-biodegradable thus pave health hazardous. Cr (VI) in soil own detrimental effects on all the organisms and imparts serious environmental concerns. Cr (VI) owe +ve redox potential to offer strong oxidizing capacity being unstable in an electron donors groups. Diverse species reacts with Cr (VI) depend on pH and concentration. Most industries discharged wastewater contamination by Lead (II) and deemed utmost hazardous to health and environment. Lead (II) is absorbed in living species and subsequently penetrates food chains. Lead ingested beyond its stringent level results acute health disorders. Thus, its compulsory to treat Pb(II) contaminations prior to its discharge into the environment. This is perspective insights and new ideas on how solid waste, an unused resource available in large quantities from industries, so targeted to boost environmental protection in our environment. Keywords: Soil, Lead (II), Chromium (III)/ (VI), toxicity, heavy metal, bioremediation. Read more →