Application of Indigenous Biofilm Forming Bacterial Strain in Bioremediation of Heavy Metals

Author: Mohit Kumar Mehra and Evangeline Christina

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Abstract

Contamination of the environment by heavy metals has posed as a serious risk to not only the environment but is also a serious health risk to humans because of their long-term effects and involvement in the food chains. These heavy metals interfere with the cellular function of microorganisms, plants, animals and humans leaving all the living organisms at a health risk. To solve the problem of heavy metal pollution several methods are being implemented but the most convenient method is bioremediation where the microorganisms are being used for the transformation of heavy metals into lesser toxic forms. The major drawbacks faced during the bioremediation are the slower rate and inability to control the process in natural environment, but due to the growing concern of the world towards the problem of heavy metal pollution, the removal of heavy metals by bioremediation is considered as the long term effective and the logical method by being less expensive and effective when compared to ot

Keywords

Biofilm, Bioremediation, Heavy metals, Pollution, Toxicity

Conclusion

Microorganisms are known to be ubiquitous in the biosphere and their presence can be beneficial or harmful to the environment. There is no naturally occurring compound which cannot be degraded by some microbe. This property of microorganisms can be utilized to degrade the contaminants and pollutants which are causing harm to any ecosystem and its residents proving that bioremediation can be a powerful tool for the clean-up of these sites. Heavy metals are naturally present elements which have higher atomic weights. Heavy metals have various utilization in industries, domestic, medical field, agriculture and technology and this has led to the existence of heavy metals in the ecosystem which has raised concerns because of their potential adverse effects on the health of humans and environment. Heavy metals are considered hazardous to the ecosystem because of their three characteristics: persistence, bioaccumulation and toxicity. There have been various traditional methods for the removal

References

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How to cite this article

Mehra, M.K. and Christina, E. (2021). Application of Indigenous Biofilm Forming Bacterial Strain in Bioremediation of Heavy Metals. Biological Forum – An International Journal, 13(1): 607-616.