Plant and Environment https://journals.pagepal.org/index.php/plant-and-environment Application of Bioremediation as sustainable approach to remediate heavy metal and pesticide polluted environments Muhammad Mahroz Hussain*1,2, Zia Ur Rahman Farooqi*1,3, Waqas Mohy-Ud-Din1, Fazila Younas1, Muhammad Tahir Shahzad1, Muhammad Usman Ghani1,5, Muhammad Ashar Ayub1 and Abdul Qadeer1 1Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad, Pakistan-38040. 2University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Laboratory of Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany 3Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, 23 St Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, Scotland, UK Article Info Abstract Keyword s: Bioremediation is a technique, which involves different organisms and different Pollutants types, sources, substances to treat or detoxify the pollutants in an eco-friendly way. It involves plants, contamination, toxicity, microbes, fungus, and different nutrients and gasses. It can detoxify an extensive array remediation erosion of pollutants both the organic and inorganic e.g. heavy metals and different types of pesticides. The use of microbes for this purpose is the most common practice as these Date: are ecofriendly and can be used anywhere i.e. in-situ and ex-situ. The pesticides and Received: 7 April 2020 the heavy metals are predictable. Regardless of their harmful effects, their use is Accepted: 16 September 2020 increasing. there are many techniques to cope with their harmful effects but there is Published: 15 February 2021 another issue regarding the side effects of these techniques. However, bioremediation is a sustainable way to get rid of pollutants from the contaminated sites as it leaves Volume: 01(02), 2021 detoxified products on the sites. In this review, we have discussed different types of pollutants, their sources, effects and remediation through a sustainable way with mechanisms, advantages along with the drawbacks with future needs of research. helps to resolve the issues related to toxic metals (Borden, Introduction 2017; Hazen, 2018; Joye et al., 2018). In this technique, several plants, algae and microbial species are used to In the past century, the rapid development of remediate the contaminant from the environment in more industrialization, the rapid use of energy and the environment-friendly and cost-effective way (Ansari et al., exploitation of natural resources have been the main reasons 2016; Pandey et al., 2016). These plants can degrade, for the increase in pollution. Pollution has now seriously remove, immobilize or vaporize the pollutants on a wide threatened biodiversity and ecosystem processes. Various range area either the wetland or the terrestrial land system. toxic organic and inorganic pollutants are discharged into Phytoremediation is not a new technology, almost 300 years the water body, which further pollutes the soil and sediment. ago different types of plant species were utilized to clean up To overcome the pollution pressure, different approaches the wastewater (Qasim, 2017). The plant species like were used but due to limiting resources, extensive labor and Thlaspi caerulescens and Viola calaminaria were the first to environmental hazardous residues, these approaches were use as phytoremediator which could accumulate the discouraged. Phytoremediation is a green technology, which increased levels of heavy metals in their leaves (Carr et al., 2016). It has been reported that up to 0.6% Se can be accumulated in dry shoot biomass of Astragalus. One *Email: [email protected]; [email protected] © 2021, PagePal Pvt. Ltd. (https://journals.pagepal.org/index.php/plant-and-environment) 62 Plant and Environment Review Article decade later, it was identified that up to 1% Ni could be It is best used in places with low levels of organic, nutrient accumulated in plant shoots (Yang et al., 2016). Extensive or metal contaminants and is suitable for one of five research has been carried out over the past ten years to applications: transformation, bioremediation of the investigate the mechanism of metal uptake by plant. rhizosphere, stabilization, extraction and rhizome filtration. Excessive metal enrichment is a phenomenon that is often The use of different processes of green plants for the associated with endemic types of metal-containing soils and detoxification, immobilization, and removal of an occurs only in a very small part of this metal plant (Hao et environmental pollutant from water, sediments or soil that al., 2019). They have been found in temperate and tropical are defensive against the pollutant (Jadia and Fulekar, 2009; environments on all continents. Known distribution centers Zhang et al., 2016). are Cuba, Brazil, Asia, New Caledonia, Southeast Asia, Using phytoremediation for soil contaminated with Southern Europe for Ni, Europe for Pb and Zn; Central and trace elements can represent an inexpensive bioremediation South Africa for Cu and Co. There are specific plant genera technology. It is possible to develop metal hyper- and families for example, Leucocroton (Senecio), accumulation systems that are required for HM polluted Asteraceae (Pentacalia), Euphorbiaceae (Phyllanthus), sites by introducing new features into transgenic plants with Brassicaceae (Alderaceae & Thlaspi) for nickel; and a high biomass content (Devi et al., 2017; Fai et al., 2018, Cruciferae (Thlaspi) for Zn remediation (Wang et al., 2016; Jesitha and Harikumar, 2018; Abid et al., 2019). Genetic Huang et al., 2018). manipulation of plants for phyto-therapy requires many Phytoremediation restores contaminated sites and uses optimization methods, as well as the mobilization of trace the plants natural characters to uptake, accumulate, store, amounts of HMs and their absorption in plant roots, stems degrade and remediate HM (McIntyre, 2003; Gómez et al., and other viable parts following detoxification and 2017; Sivarajasekar et al., 2018). During green revolution, distribution in plants (Labana et al., 2003; Qiu et al., 2007). pesticides and fertilizers polluted the soil with HM like Cd, This review aims to explain the sources and impacts of Pb, Ni, As and Hg. Pesticides, beside their biocidal and different pollutants on the living organisms as well as the fertilizing effects, contain considerable amount of HM in environment. Also, this review will highlight the approaches them which can be highly toxic and cause agricultural and mechanisms to cope with the enhanced pesticides diseases such as cancer and neurodegenerative diseases pollution globally, multiple and cost-effective ways to (Maipas et al., 2016; Bonner and Alavanja, 2017; Kabir et remediate the pollution, the major advantages and al., 2017). In addition, pesticides are becoming more disadvantages for using these approaches. expensive for farmers with increasing efficiency and selectivity. In the industrialized countries, however, the 1. Sources of organic and in-organic pollutants rapid transition from self-sufficient agriculture to intensive The HMs are defined as those elements that have higher agriculture has provided a way to fight the food security. In -3 past, legal context for the usage of pesticides and fertilizers atomic weights with density above 5 g cm . These are inevitable and cannot be avoided as they were found was implemented less frequently than in the present era naturally via. weathering (Alloway, 2013), volcanic (Rotter et al., 2018). In addition, society is less aware of the eruptions (Adamo et al., 2003), and fossil fuels (Callender, risks associated with pesticides and fertilizers. Enhanced 2003). Then used as raw and processing materials such as pesticides usage if on one hand providing us a path to fight the food security but on the other hand it also poses a threat platinum (Pt) in hydrogenation (Callender, 2003), arsenic to the environment especially the water bodies (Wong, (As) in pesticides (Hussain et al., 2019), cadmium (Cd) in fertilizers (Roberts, 2014) and other different industrial, 2018). domestic, agricultural and medical uses (Yedjou et al., However, this problem can be overcome by 2012). Pesticides contain HM as well as organic pollutants. phytoremediation, which can reduce organic and inorganic It is believed that almost all the HMs are widespread in the pollutants from the environment (Pascal-Lorber and environment due to anthropogenic and natural sources Laurent, 2011). Plants can bio accumulate, bio-transform (Kiran et al., 2008; Shan et al., 2010; Wei and Yang, 2010). and stabilize the pollutants (Li et al., 2003; Hermann et al., Hydrocarbon pollution is related to the combustion of fossil 2016). Other HM remediation technologies are expensive, fuels, oil pollution, and industrial and household waste. laborious and ecologically damaging. In contrast to organic Adjacent to refineries and fuel distributors, the pollutants, HM cannot be broken down. Therefore, concentration of hydrocarbons in sediments from transport immobilization is a best strategy for elimination of this activities and wastewater discharge is high (Medeiros et al., toxicity which is possible by using either the 2005; Garcia et al., 2010). There the diffusion of hyperaccumulator plants or microbes (Gao et al., 2016; hydrocarbons is controlled by freshwater emissions and Chaukura et al., 2017; Zhai et al., 2017; Villaverde, 2017). wind