Sequestration and detoxification of heavy metals by fungi

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Abdel-Wareth M.T.A.

Journal: Sustainable Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Pollution Control

Publisher: Springer Nature

Publication Date: 28 June 2023

Pages: 185–209

DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-2560-5_10

Scopus: View on Scopus

Document Type: Book chapter

Authors and Affiliations

Abdel-Wareth M.T.A., Environmental Research Department, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt

Abstract

Metal pollution represents a considerable problem in many ecosystems worldwide. Recently, expanded industrialization resulted in production of large quantities of industrial wastes which are improperly discharged without prior treatment. This leads to contamination of soil and water with heavy metals. Although some metals such as Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni and Co are essential for biological and metabolic processes, they in addition to certain toxic metals (Hg, Pb, Cd, As, Al and Cr) may negatively affect human health upon exposure to high concentrations that exceed the safety limit. Unfortunately, heavy metals cannot be removed from the environment; as they are non degradable neither by chemical nor by biological means. They can pose a risk to food safety and human health via transportation and accumulation in agricultural commodities. Additionally, upon reaching water systems, these heavy metals are accumulated in aquatic fauna and cause detrimental effects on water resources, aquatic organisms and humans. Filamentous fungi represent a promising cost-effective alternative to physical and chemical technologies for removal of heavy metals from contaminated sources. Many researchers investigated the ability of different fungal species to sequester heavy metals either via biosorption (passive binding to a non living biomass) or bioaccumulation (metabolic activity of the living fungus). Fungi use different mechanisms to sequester heavy metals, and they were shown to be effective under different environmental conditions (i.e., temperature, pH...etc). Many fungal species such as Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus sp., Penicillium glabrum, Penicillium simplicissimum, Phanerochaete chrysosporiumand Trichoderma viridaewere found to be good candidates for remediation of heavy metals. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.

Keywords

Aspergillus; Bioaccumulation; Bioremediation; Biosorption; Environmental conditions; Fungi; Metal pollution; Penicillium

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 7

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