Okeke Emmanuel Sunday, Nwankwo Chidiebele Emmanuel Ikechukwu, Owonikoko Wasiu Mathew, Emencheta Stephen Chijioke, Ozochi Chizoba Anthonia, Nweze Ekene John, Okeke Veronica Chisom, Nwuche Charles Ogugua, Enochoghene Adebisi Esther
Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria; Institute of Environmental Health and Ecological Security, School of the Environment and Safety, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China.
Natural Science Unit, School of General Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria; School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Rd., Zhenjiang 212013, Jiangsu, China; Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka 410001, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Sci Total Environ. 2024 Dec 20;957:177719. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.177719. Epub 2024 Dec 3.
Many compounds and inorganic elements released from natural and anthropogenic origins contaminate the environment and are implicated in catastrophes involving most biologically driven ecological processes and public health. One such element is Mercury. Mercury exists in both inorganic elemental form and the more metabolically active molecular form e.g. methyl mercury. They enjoy wide applications in medicine and form key components of numerous electrical and electronic devices. Unfortunately, severe health and adverse physiological conditions have developed from the impacts of mercury on the flora and fauna of both aquatic and terrestrial organisms. Despite being present in tiny amounts in water bodies, mercury undergoes a process of trophic amplification where its concentration increases significantly as it moves up the food chain through processes like biomethylation, bioaccumulation, and biomagnification. Most current methods for removing mercury through physical and chemical means have significant drawbacks, including high costs, complex technical requirements, and harmful secondary effects on the environment. Therefore, only environmentally friendly and sustainable approaches are acceptable to mitigate the risks to public health and ecosystem damage. Bioremediation involves the use of biological systems, i.e., plants and microbes, to recover mercury from the environment. The application of microorganisms in remediation is the hallmark of all mitigation strategies targeted at mercury pollution in the soil and aquatic matrices. The present paper provides a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge on mercury pollution in the environment (i.e., atmosphere, soil, water, and sediments). Many symptoms of mercury poisoning in fish, birds, and other animals, including man, were extensively treated. Information on the existing physico-chemical treatment methods, as well as the more ecologically friendly bioremediation measures available, was summarized. The importance of strengthening existing international policies, commitments, protocols, and alignments on the control of anthropogenic generation, treatment, and reduction of mercury discharges to the environment was highlighted.
许多来自自然和人为来源的化合物及无机元素污染了环境，并与涉及大多数生物驱动的生态过程和公共卫生的灾难有关。汞就是这样一种元素。汞以无机元素形式和代谢活性更强的分子形式（如甲基汞）存在。它们在医学中有广泛应用，也是众多电气和电子设备的关键组成部分。不幸的是，汞对水生和陆生生物的动植物群产生影响，导致了严重的健康问题和不良生理状况。尽管水体中汞的含量极少，但汞会经历营养级放大过程，即通过生物甲基化、生物积累和生物放大等过程，其浓度在食物链中向上移动时会显著增加。目前大多数通过物理和化学手段去除汞的方法都有显著缺点，包括成本高、技术要求复杂以及对环境有有害的二次影响。因此，只有环境友好和可持续的方法才可以接受，以减轻对公众健康的风险和生态系统损害。生物修复涉及利用生物系统，即植物和微生物，从环境中回收汞。微生物在修复中的应用是所有针对土壤和水生基质中汞污染的缓解策略的标志。本文全面概述了目前关于环境（即大气、土壤、水和沉积物）中汞污染的知识。广泛论述了鱼类、鸟类和其他动物（包括人类）汞中毒的许多症状。总结了现有的物理化学处理方法以及更生态友好的生物修复措施的信息。强调了加强现有国际政策、承诺、议定书以及在控制人为汞排放、处理和减少向环境排放汞方面的一致性的重要性。
