Heavy metal contamination, human health impact, and remediation techniques in water bodies: a review

Heavy metal toxicity is linked to several severe health issues in humans, with water bodies serving as a major source of exposure. This has prompted the exploration of various remediation techniques to effectively remove heavy metals from contaminated water. While these methods show promising results, each faces unique challenges in achieving complete and efficient removal. This review aimed to highlight the health risks posed by heavy metals to humans and critically assess the efficacy of different remediation strategies. Data from various studies demonstrate the remarkable efficiency of macroalgae, with Sargassum fusiforme showing removal efficiency of 99.46% for Mn2+ in wastewater. Additionally, single-walled carbon nanotube-based nanocomposites integrated with magnetite cobalt sulfide achieved a remarkable Hg removal rate (> 99.56%) in wastewater, thereby indicating the importance of hybrid systems in the synthesis and development of nanomaterials. Among various microorganisms employed for the remediation of heavy metal ions, fungi have received relatively little attention. Developing scalable bioreactors with immobilized fungi for continuous flow systems could improve the removal efficiency of heavy metal ions in wastewater. Furthermore, this review proposes an integrated approach to enhance heavy metal removal and highlights gaps in current research.