Preface xvii
1 Overview of Heavy Metals 1
Shisak Sharma, Imotila T. Longchar, Raplang Steven Umdor and Dipak Sinha
1.1 Introduction 2
1.2 Heavy Metal (HM) Pollution 3
1.3 Heavy Metals (HMs) in Soil, Water, and Air 6
1.4 Mechanism of Heavy Metals (HMs) Toxicity 7
1.5 Effects of Heavy Metals (HMs) on Plants 8
1.6 Effects of Heavy Metals (HMs) on Human Health 10
1.7 Remediation and Management Strategies 12
1.8 Recommendations 16
1.9 Conclusion and Future Prospects 16
2 Tracing the Silent Threat: Unraveling Heavy Metal Contamination Pathways and Impacts across Environmental Matrices 25
Qudrat Ullah, Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj, Waqas Haider and Tassaneem Yuttasa-Ard
2.1 Introduction to Heavy Metal (HM) Contamination 26
2.2 Sources of Heavy Metals (HMs) in Water, Soil, and Air 27
2.3 Pathways of Heavy Metal (HM) Distribution across Environmental Matrices 29
2.4 Impacts on Ecosystems: Soil Fertility, Aquatic Life, and Air Quality 32
2.5 Human Health Effects: Bioaccumulation and Toxicity Risks 33
2.6 Case Studies: Shazand Plain, Iran, and Nile Tilapia in Egypt 36
2.7 The Need for Targeted Remediation Strategies 38
2.8 Recommendations 382.9 Conclusion 39
3 Assessment and Monitoring Techniques for Heavy Metal Detection 45
Souravi Bardhan and Dipak Kr. Chanda
3.1 Introduction 46
3.2 Sources and Ecological Impacts of Heavy Metals (HMs) 47
3.3 Sampling and Pre-Treatment Procedures 52
3.4 Analytical Methods 54
3.5 Nanotechnology (NT) and Biosensing-Based Methods 64
3.6 Remote Sensing and Spectroscopic Monitoring 67
3.7 Limitations and Challenges in Detection 71
3.8 Future Prospects and Conclusion 75
4 Remediation Technologies: Science and Innovation 83
Prabhat Kumar Patel and Ramagopal V.S. Uppaluri
4.1 Introduction 84
4.2 Research Gaps 86
4.3 Comparative Efficacy of Chitosan-Derived Sorbents in Wastewater Treatment 88
4.4 Challenges and Prospects 89
4.5 Recommendations 101
4.6 Conclusion 101
5 Chelation Strategies for Remediation of Heavy Metals from Municipal Solid Waste Compost: A Sustainable Approach 109
Vivek Raj, Santosh Kumar Karn, Ashish Kumar, Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj, Arti Chamoli, Arun Kumar, Abhinav Chauhan and Arun Lal Srivastav
5.1 Introduction 110
5.2 About Heavy Metal (HM) Contamination in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Compost 111
5.3 Environmental and Agricultural Needs 112
5.4 Current Status of Heavy Metal (HM) Remediation in Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Compost 114
5.5 Major Parameters Influencing Efficiency of Chelation-Based Remediation 120
5.6 Proposed Future Research and Directions 123
5.7 Recommendations 125
5.8 Conclusion 125
6 Sustainable Approaches to Heavy Metals Remediation 133
Prangya Rath, Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj and Amit Kumar
6.1 Introduction 134
6.2 Conventional Approaches to Heavy Metal (HM) Remediation 136
6.3 Sustainable and Green Approaches to Heavy Metal (HM) Remediation 138
6.4 Socioeconomic and Policy Dimensions of Sustainable Remediation 155
6.5 Challenges, Gaps, and Future Perspectives 156
6.6 Recommendations 157
6.7 Conclusion 157
7 Rhizobacteria Can Act as a Sustainable Asset to Mitigate Heavy Metal and Organic Pollution Stress and Induce Plant Growth 171
Sakshi Tomar, Induja Mishra, Pashupati Nath, Bhupendra Singh and Prabhat K. Chauhan
7.1 Introduction 172
7.2 The Brutal Impact of Heavy Metal (HM) and Emerging Contaminant (EC) on Crop Production 173
7.3 Mechanisms and Functions of Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) 174
7.4 Future Remarks 187
7.5 Recommendations 187
7.6 Conclusion 188
8 Socioeconomic and Policy Considerations 195
Samarendra Singh, Saloni Guleria, Aditya Raj, Gautam Singh and Navjot Kaur Sandhu
8.1 Introduction 196
8.2 Socioeconomic Impacts of Heavy Metal (HM) Contamination 197
8.3 Environmental Justice in Heavy Metal (HM) Remediation 199
8.4 Policy and Regulatory Frameworks 201
8.5 Governance and Institutional Arrangements 203
8.6 Public Participation in Remediation Efforts 204
8.7 Economic Valuation Methods 208
8.8 Challenges and Opportunities in Policy and Practice 209
8.9 Recommendations 210
8.10 Conclusion 211
9 The Effects of Heavy Metals from Dumpsite Leachate on Water Resources, Human Health Risks, and Management Strategies in Developing Countries 215
Demamu Tagele Haligamo, Tamru Tesseme Aragaw and Esayas Alemayehu
9.1 Introduction 216
9.2 Review of Literature 229
9.3 Public Health Risks of Groundwater Near Landfills 229
9.4 Challenges and Obstacles to Waste Disposal in Developing Countries 232
9.5 Technologies for Heavy Metal (HM) Removal from Landfill Leachate 233
9.6 Case Studies from Two Different Countries 235
9.7 Recommendations 236
9.8 Conclusion 236
10 Breaking Barriers, Seizing Solutions: Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Heavy Metal Remediation 243
Qudrat Ullah, Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj, Waqas Haider and Muhammad Waqar
10.1 Introduction to Heavy Metal (HM) Contamination and Remediation Challenges 244
10.2 Challenges in Removal of Heavy Metals (HMs) from Soil, Water, and Air 246
10.3 Techniques for Estimation of Heavy Metal (HM) Contamination 246
10.4 Techniques for Removal of Heavy Metal (HM) Contamination 248
10.5 Bodies Involved in Heavy Metal (HM) Remediation and Their Challenges 251
10.6 Opportunities for Overcoming Remediation Challenges 252
10.7 Recommendations 255
10.8 Conclusion: Bridging Challenges with Sustainable Innovations 255
11 Charting the Horizon: Future Innovations and Global Strategies for Heavy Metal Remediation 263
Qudrat Ullah, Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj, Waqas Haider and Tassaneem Yuttasa-ard
11.1 Introduction 264
11.2 Future Environmental Impacts of Heavy Metal (HM) Contamination 265
11.3 Future Effects on Human Health 266
11.4 Emerging Technologies for Heavy Metal (HM) Removal 270
11.5 Policies and Regulations for Sustainable Remediation 272
11.6 The Role of Global Collaboration in Future Remediation 274
11.7 Recommendations 274
11.8 Conclusion: A Roadmap for Sustainable Heavy Metal (HM) Remediation 275
12 Innovating with Nature and Nanotech: Multidisciplinary Case Investigations into Sustainable Heavy Metal Remediation Techniques 285
R. Venkatesh, K. Subramani and Laxmi Kant Bhardwaj
12.1 Introduction to Sustainable Heavy Metal (HM) Remediation 286
12.2 Case Study 1: Nano-Enhanced Phytoremediation in Industrial Soil 290
12.3 Case Study 2: Biosynthesized Nanoparticles (NPs) for River Sediment Clean-Up 294
12.4 Case Study 3: Biochar-Nanocomposite Filters in Urban Water Systems 298
12.5 Cross-Case Synthesis and Lessons Learned 302
12.6 Future Directions and Recommendations 305
12.7 Conclusion: Toward Scalable, Nature-Inspired Nanotech Solutions 305
List of Abbreviations 306
References 307
Index 311
