Bioremediation of mercury contaminated soil and water: A review

Abstract

Mercury (Hg) pollution of soil and water environments is a major global threat to human health, agri‐food systems and ecosystems and industrial activities mainly coal combustion augmented their content in different environmental media. Bioremediation is a nature‐based solution involving microbial‐ and plant‐based (phytoremediation) technologies that clean‐up Hg contaminated sites. Here, we review Hg‐resistant bacteria and how latest insights in our understanding of the cellular and biochemical mechanisms of the mer operon genes responsible for Hg resistance and transformation have facilitated developments in microbial Hg‐bioremediation. We also review the phytoremediation mechanisms, including those of bacterial‐ and fungi‐assisted phytoremediation processes, which have shown promising results in reducing Hg2+ to Hg0. This review provides a detailed knowledge of novel Hg bioremediation mechanisms and methods. Consequently, microbial‐ and phyto‐based bioremediation technologies have a critical role in the reclamation of Hg‐contaminated environments and the protection of human health and ecosystems.