2019 Vol.25 No.2 PP 155­-159

Impact of heavy metal contamination : An overview

Subhash Chandra Yadav

Department of Botany,
Rashtriya P.G. College,
SUJANGANJ, JAUNPUR (U.P.)
*Corresponding Author : Email : subashyadavjaunpur@gamil.com

ABSTRACT

The issue of heavy metal pollution is very much concerned because of their toxicity for plant, animal and human beings and their lack of biodegradability. Excess concentrations of heavy metals have adverse effects on plant metabolic activities hence affect the food production qualitatively and quantitatively. Heavy metal when reaches human tissues through various absorption pathways such as direct ingestion, dermal contact, diet through the soil-food chain, inhalation and oral intake may seriously affect their health. Therefore, several management practices are being applied to minimize metal toxicity by attenuating the availability of metal to the plants. Some of the traditional methods are either extremely costly or they are simply applied to isolate contaminated site. The biology-based technology like use of hypermental accumulator plants occurring naturally or created by transgenic technology, in recent years draw great attention to remediate heavy metal contamination. Recently applications of nanoparticle for metal remediation are also attracting great research interest due to their exceptional adsorption and mechanical properties and unique electrical property, highly chemical stability and large specific surface area. Thus, the present review deals with different management approaches to reduce level of metal contamination in soil and finally of the food chain.

Key words : Heavy metal, Nanotechnology, Remediation, Toxicity.