Trace metal pollution in the environment: a review

Abstract

Trace metal (TM) pollution is a worldwide problem of late. The rapid pace of urban transition, globalization and industrialization has resulted in the deposition and conversion of trace metals in the environment. The effects of TM pollution have not only harmed the plants and crops, but also have posed severe health hazards in animals during recent years. The dynamics of inter- and intra-compartmental metal exchange and the involved kinetics have some role to play in mobility and availability of TM in a particular compartment and have impacted every sphere of environment. Technological advancements coupled with the bioremediation process are gaining popularity in addressing the growing issue nowadays. The current review therefore attempts not only to highlight the dynamics of TM stay in the environment but also to trace the fluctuation in the TM biogeochemical cycle with an analysis of compartmental source-sink of TM. It also attempts to expose the knowledge gap in addressing the effects of TM on pollution tolerance ability of green vegetation and the role of urban biotopes and green belts in mitigating TM pollution.