2025
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PublicationArticle Role of protozoa in the bioremediation of industrial wastewater(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Syla Shahid; Reeva Shahid; n. Anza; Rachana Singh; Navaneet Chaturvedi; Anand Vikram Singh; Ajay KumarProtozoa are underrated microorganisms in the field of bioremediation. Flagellates, ciliates, and amoebae exhibit unique contributions to these processes. Moreover, protozoa demonstrate potential in bioremediating specific contaminants, including copper, hydrocarbons, and potentially uranium in groundwater or waste water management. Their grazing activity on bacteria, nutrient excretion, and growth factor release accelerate carbon mineralization in the activated sludge. Although their indirect effects are less pronounced under low substrate conditions, protozoa are primary bacterivorous grazers, contributing to effluent clarification and reducing pathogenic bacteria. Protozoan bioremediation has the potential of becoming a valuable asset for environmental sustainability. This chapter briefly discuss the bioremediation process and the ability of the protozoans in the degradation of environmental contaminents. © 2025PublicationBook Chapter Role of microbial enzymes in nano-bioremediation process and its mechanism(Elsevier, 2025) Saurabh Singh; Akhilesh Kumar; Ram Krishna; Durgesh Kumar Jaiswal; Gowardhan Kumar Chouhan; Jay Prakash Prakash VermaThe urgent need for eco-friendly and cost-effective methods to combat environmental pollution has driven the exploration of innovative approaches in bioremediation. Nano-bioremediation presents a novel and synergistic solution to combat heavy metal contamination, hydrocarbon pollution, and pesticide residues in diverse ecosystems. This chapter explores the emerging field of nano-bioremediation, which combines the catalytic power of microbial enzymes with the unique properties of nanoparticles (NPs) to address a spectrum of environmental contaminants. It discusses the intricate mechanisms involved, including enhanced surface area, targeted delivery, and stability imparted by nanomaterials, which significantly improve the efficiency of enzyme-mediated bioremediation, emphasizing mainly upon enzymatic part. However, this promising approach is not without its challenges. Concerns about the ecological impact of nanoparticles, optimal concentration levels, and scalability of microbial NPs synthesis are addressed. This chapter not only explores the evolving landscape of nano-bioremediation but also emphasizes its potential to align with sustainable and green technologies. By integrating plant extracts, soil microbiomes, and biogenic nanomaterials, nano-bioremediation holds promise as a transformative tool for restoring and preserving the health of our planet's ecosystems. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PublicationArticle Improvement of soil quality through biochar in rice under wastewater irrigated soil: Effects on heavy metals reduction(OICC Press, 2025) Sayon Mukherjee; Satish Kumar Singh; Raimundo Jiménez-Ballesta; Abhik Patra; S. S. JatavPurpose: Rice, a global staple, can accumulate high levels of heavy metals especially Chromium (Cr) when grown in a soil irrigated with tannery effluent over time, potentially reaching toxic levels for human consumption. Biochar offers a cost-effective solution by binding these heavy metals in soil, reducing their bioavailability and mitigating health risks. The present study offers a two-way solution of reducing weed load of agricultural fields through parthenium biochar preparation and its application in Cr contaminated soil with aim of its lower accumulation in the edible part of the crop. Method: The investigation consists of ten treatments in completely randomized design with three replications using simple and concentrated H3PO4 and 1 M FeCl3 modified biochar at graded dose and one biochar untreated control. All treatments receive a recommended dose of NPK fertilizers. Results: Our study shows that biochar produced from parthenium can reduce uptake of heavy metals in the plant body. Moreover, modification of biochar by H3PO4 and FeCl3 hastened the metal fixation and further reduced the metals accumulation in different parts of plant body depicted by lowering translocation factor (TF) along with translocation coefficient (TC). Conclusion: Overall, application of biochar is proven to reduce the metals accumulation in rice plant parts and grains rendering it a good amendment. © 2025 The Author(s).PublicationBook Chapter Nanomaterials for Heavy Metal Removal from Water and Wastewater(Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2025) Dibyajyoti Panda; Abhik Patra; Sayon Mukherjee; Sabyasachi Koley; Yogendra MeenaWater is the most important natural resource on Earth for human development and all living beings’ existence. Urbanization and industrialization are the main causes of the sharp rise in water consumption. In the twenty-first century, water pollution due to heavy metals is a serious environmental issue. Though heavy metals are present at the trace level in the natural environment, due to biomagnification and bioaccumulation phenomena, they show hazardous effects on the environment and human beings. Due to the rise in the global population, discharges of contaminated waste from industrial, agricultural, and domestic had increased manifolds and ultimately they reach the water sources. In many instances, the removal efficiencies of conventional treatment procedures are insufficient. On the other hand, a newly created sophisticated treatment method, nanotechnology, has widespread applicability in various fields of research and it is paving the way to find suitable methods for the treatment of wastewater. Nanomaterials are biodegradable, have a high specific surface area, play a key role in polar and nonpolar chemistry, have high adsorption capacity, and have controlled and tunable size making them suitable candidates for remediation of water. In this chapter, nanomaterials of carbon-based nanomaterials (carbon nanotubes, carbon nanofibers, graphene, and fullerenes) and non-carbon origins such as nanoparticles of double-layered hydroxides, nanomaterials of metal oxide origin (Fe, Al, Ti, Mg, and Mn,), nanoclay (Kaolin, montmorillonite and zeolite), dendrimers, nanomaterials based on zero-valent metal (Fe, Ag, and Au) and silica nanomaterials benefits, drawbacks, and efficiency were discussed. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025.PublicationArticle Heavy Metal Analysis of Commercial Rice Grains from Varanasi City of India: Insight into Contamination Level, Daily Intake and Associated Health Risks(Springer, 2025) Priyanka K. Singh; Rajesh Kumar Sharma; Prince Kumar SinghRice (Oryza sativa L.) is a staple food in Many Asian countries and plays a vital role in global food security. Heavy metal contamination of the rice grains is a global concern, yet data on contamination level and associated risks in Northern India remain Limited. Thus, the present study quantified concentrations of Cd, Cr, Pb, As, Ni, Cu, and Zn in 19 rice grain varieties consumed by urban population of India using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Hazardous risks of consuming rice grains were assessed through computing estimated daily intake (EDI), target hazard quotient (THQ), and target cancer risk (TCR). Results showed that Pb, As, and Ni levels in rice grains were below the detection thresholds (0.2, 0.2, and 0.04 µg g⁻1 dw, respectively). However, concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn ranged between 0.25–1.3, 0.25–4.1, 1.8–10.5 and 19.5–36.8 µg g⁻1 dw, respectively. Except Cd, all the heavy metals were below the international and Indian permissible standards. Cd and Cr were detected in six rice varieties only (Jeera 32, Chintu, Cuttack, Silky, Kinki and Gawahi). EDI values via rice consumption were found as Zn > Cu > Cr > Cd for both children and adults. THQ values for Cd, Cr, and Cu exceeds a unit in Sonanchal, Kalanamak, and Moti under high exposure frequency. TCR further revealed that Cd and Cr in rice varieties posed carcinogenic risks to local residents. Ensuring food and public health safety adheres to strict monitoring and regulations of heavy metal contamination in rice grains. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2025.PublicationBook Chapter Submicron particulate exposure and attributable health risks(Elsevier, 2025) Tirthankar Banerjee; Tanu Chaudhary; Abhishek Singh; V. K. Saritha; Vishnu Murari; Mahesh Mohan✉A comprehensive investigation was conducted on the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic health risks of various population age groups for exposure to airborne submicron particle-bound metals in a tropical urban city over South Asia. Initially, submicron particulate mass was monitored from November 2022 till February 2023 to assess any time-specific trend in particulate mass concentration. For the majority of the monitoring days (>90%), PM1 mass concentration remained ≥100 µg m−3 with occasional cases when it exceeded 200 µg m−3. Mean concentration of PM1 was 125 µg m−3 (±47 µg m−3; N: 51) with interquartile range varying from 93 to 147 µg m−3. Approximately 21% (±5%) of particulate mass was noted to be composed of airborne metals with no robust season-specific variations, while trace metals accounted for 4.4% of particulate mass and 16% of total metal abundance. Among the metals, crustal-borne calcium (6.6 ± 3.2 µg m−3) contributed maximum proportion of metallic mass, followed by K (5.1 ± 2.8 µg m−3). The presence of trace metals with specific signatures of industrial emissions, such as Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Pb, Ni, Cd, and Cu, was also detected, sharing 4.6% of particulate mass with overall concentration of 5.1 µg m−3. Among the trace metals, Fe was the most prevalent within the particulate mass, followed by Cr. The relevant sources of PM-bound metals were further quantified using principal component analysis. It revealed the disproportionate contribution of four factors, traced by the universal signature of marker species, and explained a total variance of 87%. Crustal resuspension (46%) was found to contribute major fraction of absolute particulate mass, followed by industrial emissions (19%), whereas both biomass/waste combustion and vehicular emissions were found to individually contribute approximately 10%-11% of particulate-bound metals. Geo-accumulation index revealed major Zn contamination with respect to earth's crust. We note that exposure levels for noncarcinogenic PM1 metals were high in children, especially through consumption of metal-contaminated food. On the contrary, adults were at risk to metal exposure with carcinogenic potential through inhalation. Overall, we conclude that health risks attributed through exposure to PM1-bound metals were within the tolerable limit in the city of Varanasi with few exceptions. © 2025 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.PublicationArticle Targeted elimination of heavy metals from industrial wastewater: Synergistic effect of nano metal oxides(Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers, 2025) Manoharan Swathika; N. Muthulakshmi Andal; Sivasubramaniam Dharani; Jay Singh; Shyam S. Pandey; Kshitij RB Singh; Arunadevi NatarajanBackground: Unprocessed solutions containing hazardous heavy metals, even in trace amounts, exert a detrimental impact on human health and pose a threat to biodiversity, hydrosphere ecosystems, and communities. Liquid waste containing heavy metals has been found to pose a notable threat to the environment. Method: In this study, nano NiO, MnO, and NiMnO3 were synthesized and characterized systematically. The nano metal oxides were used as an adsorbent for the elimination of heavy metals from industrial wastewater. Significant Findings: In view of this, the efficacy of synthesized metal oxides as potential sorbents is investigated to chelate Pb (II) ions which are present as one of the major contaminants of industrial effluents. Three adsorption systems viz., Pb(II) – NiO, Pb(II) - MnO, and Pb(II) – NiMnO3 mixture were experimentally verified by Batch equilibration and fixed bed column methods. Pre and post-run sorbent materials are characterized using SEM and EDAX analyses to examine the appropriate changes. A trial fixed bed column was run for the effluent sample, wherein 98% Pb (II) removal was registered against 96 % as observed in Batch mode. This emphasizes the potential of the synthesized metal oxides as efficient sorbents for addressing heavy metal contamination in industrial wastewater. © 2024 Taiwan Institute of Chemical EngineersPublicationArticle Microbial bioremediation of heavy metal approaches and advancement(Elsevier B.V., 2025) Priya Yadav; Jyotsna Bora; Arya Gupta; Guniyal Raina; Subhasha Nigam; Navaneet Chaturvedi; Ajay Kumar; Rahul Prasad Singh; Sandeep Kumar Singh; Hariom VermaIn the last few decades industrial revolution and rapid urbanization, uses of pesticides in the agriculture, as well as mining often lead to accumulation of heavy metals in the soil and water ecosystem. Although some of the heavy metals such as Zn, Co, Cu and Fe considered as essential trace elements required by the plants for the catalytic activity or as cofactors for the several enzymatic reactions. However the excess accumulation of the heavy metals in the environment such as soil or water ecosystem can lead to severe challenges to environments and human health. The accumulation of heavy metals in the human being can lead to the distruction of membrane integrity, DNA or inhibition of several proteins. Although to mitigate the challenges of heavy metals toxicity several traditional approaches have been followed, but the high cost, limited resources again appear as a challenge. In this context bioremediation or the microbial based bioremediation of the heavy metal gaining attention in the recent past. The paper has been compiled to briefly discuss the effect of heavy metal son the plant or human beings, the mechanism followed by the microbial species during the bioremediation of heavy metals and the application of microbial species in the bioremediation of heavy metals. © 2025PublicationArticle Vegetables under siege: the hidden threat of metal contamination in Varanasi’s suburban soils(Springer, 2025) Rashmi K. Singh; Ashish Kumar Mishra; Ansuman Sahoo; Alok Kumar Khare; Supriya P. TiwariHeavy metal pollution in soils and edible crops poses a critical environmental challenge worldwide. This study examined the contamination of soils by heavy metals in Varanasi region of the Indo-Gangetic plains and assessed its impact on the phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant profiles of vegetables. Field investigations were conducted at various sites irrigated with wastewater from industries such as fabric dyeing, battery production, and paint manufacturing. Samples of soil, water, and vegetables including S. oleracea, L. siceraria, M. spicata, A. grain, L. acutangula, A. esculentus, M. charantia, P. vulgaris, and S. melongena were collected from agricultural fields frequently exposed to industrial wastewater. Concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr) were measured in soil, water, and vegetables, revealing highest metal pollution index (MPI) in Lohta, followed by Ramnagar, Varuna, Dinapur, Shivpur, and least at Banaras Hindu University (BHU). A positive correlation was observed between metal contamination along with increased phenolic and flavonoid content in vegetables, indicating potential biomarkers for heavy metal-induced stress. Additionally, significant elevations in DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP activities were recorded across contaminated sites, suggesting heightened oxidative stress from increased free radical production. Hierarchical clustering and regression analyses revealed that leafy vegetables (S. oleracea, M. spicata, A. grain) exhibited strongest antioxidant responses. These findings underscore that prolonged consumption of these contaminated vegetables may pose serious health risks due to heavy metal-induced oxidative stress. © The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Society for Plant Research 2025.PublicationReview Biochar's multifaceted role in bioremediation of emerging contaminants and heavy metals in complex rhizospheric ecosystem(Elsevier Ltd, 2025) Shiv Vendra Singh; Shivangi Raghuvanshi; Yogeshwar V. Singh; Krishna Kumar Yadav; Amel Gacem; Tony Manoj K. Nandipamu; Mohammad Khalid; Rashida Hameed; Rashmi Sharma; Debarati Datta; Saurabh Ghosh; Arpna Kumari; Ajay Kumar Singh; Biswajit Pramanick; Xiuxiu Zhang; Chongqing Wang; Maha Awjan Awjan AlreshidiRising prevalence of emerging contaminants (ECs) and priority heavy metals (PHMs) poses grave threats to the health of the environment and humankind, majorly resulting from human activity such as mining, disposal of industrial wastes, and use of chemicals. These pollutants drastically reduce soil biodiversity, fertility, and crop yield, rendering agricultural goods hazardous. Biochar has recently received attention as a sustainable bioremediation solution for ECs and PHMs through diverse physical, chemical, and biological processes. Biochar has demonstrated significant bioremediation efficiency for PAHs, antibiotics, microplastics, and pesticides varied from 50 to 95% and 60–90% for PHMs in a wide range of ecosystems. The interactive mechanisms of complexation, precipitation, ion exchange, surface sorption, and electrostatic interaction, hydrophobic interaction electron donor and acceptor interaction altogether enhance contaminant immobilization and biodegradation. Furthermore, biochar has been shown to aid in the breakdown of contaminants while lowering the transportation and accessibility of heavy metals. Besides remediation, biochar improves the rhizospheric environment by enhancing plant growth, nutrient uptake, and soil vitality. Its ability to remove both heavy metals and organic pollutants from wastewater and soil matrices, and its influence on their bioavailability and transport, show the dual nature of biochar in restoring environments. This manuscript attempts to provide in-depth insight into the challenges that ECs and PHMs pose, the role of biochar in their removal, and delicate soil-plant-biochar interactions. The work here discusses these interacting effects, thus giving insight into the potential of biochar in the immobilization of ECs and PHMs through many interspecific reactions, and also the soil-plant-biochar interactions and possibilities for successful remediation. © 2025 Elsevier Ltd
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