Metal contamination – a global environmental issue: sources, implications & advances in mitigation

Abstract

Metal contamination (MC) is a growing environmental issue, with metals altering biotic and metabolic pathways and entering the human body through contaminated food, water and inhalation. With continued population growth and industrialisation, MC poses an exacerbating risk to human health and ecosystems. Metal contamination in the environment is expected to continue to increase, requiring effective remediation approaches and harmonised monitoring programmes to significantly reduce the impact on health and the environment. Bio-based methods, such as enhanced phytoextraction and chemical stabilisation, are being used worldwide to remediate contaminated sites. A systematic plant screening of potential metallophytes can identify the most effective candidates for phytoremediation. However, the detection and prediction of MC is complex, non-linear and chaotic, and it frequently overlaps with various other constraints. Rapidly evolving artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms offer promising tools for the detection, growth and activity modelling and management of metallophytes, helping to fill knowledge gaps related to complex metal-environment interactions in different scenarios. By integrating AI with advanced sensor technologies and field-based trials, future research could revolutionize remediation strategies. This interdisciplinary approach holds immense potential in mitigating the detrimental impacts of metal contamination efficiently and sustainably.