6.9 Conclusion
The pollution of soils with heavy metals symbolized a worldwide ecological problem of great concern. Conventional methods for metal-contaminated soils are usually very costly and regularly induce undesirable effects on physico-chemical
properties of soil and biological activity. Chemical methods have many drawbacks
in the elimination of contaminants because they generally utilize chemical catalysts,
and applying them in larger polluted sites is complicated. Physical remediation
methods can totally eliminate heavy metal(loid)s from infected soil but can cause
negative effect in nature and are highly expensive. The utilization of microbial
cultures which destroy or alter heavy metal to less toxic compounds has become
gradually more famous in recent years. Bioremediation is a biological mechanism of
recycling wastes into another form that can be used by other organisms. Mycorrhizal
fungi can enhance nutrient uptake and also have degradation capacities for heavy
metal. Maximum research on fungal bioremediation has been carried out on laboratory. So further work is required to account the natural variables and increase their
applicability in large-scale polluted fields. This chapter may further contribute to the
substantial potential offered by fungal diversity in various habitats and their bioremediation potential.
Acknowledgment The authors wish to thank the Vice Chancellor Prof. KD Mishra,
R.D. University, Jabalpur, India.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
Abedin MJ, Cotter-Howells J, Meharg AA (2002) Arsenic uptake and accumulation in rice (Oryza
sativa L.) irrigated with contaminated water. Plant Soil 240(2):311–319
Abramovitch RA, Bangzhou H, Abramovitch DA, Jiangao S (1999a) In situ decomposition of
PAHs in soil and desorption of organic solvent using microwave energy clodextrin enhanced
biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols in contaminated soil slurry.
Environ Sci Technol 41:5498–5504
Abramovitch RA, Huang BZ, Abramovitch DA (1999b) In situ decomposition of PCBs in soil
using microwave energy. Chemosphere 38:22–27
Adler T (1996) Botanical cleanup crews. Sci News 150:42–43
Afroz Z, Singh A (2014) Impact of pulp and paper mill effluent on water quality of river Aami and
its effect on aquatic life (fish). Global J Pharmacol 8:140–149
Ahmad I, Akhtar MJ, Zahir ZA, Jamil A (2012) Effect of cadmium on seed germination and
seedling growth of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. Pak J Bot 44(5):1569–1574
Ahn C, Kim Y, Woo S, Park J (2007) Selective adsorption of phenanthrene dissolved in surfactant
solution using activated carbon. Chemosphere 69:1681–1688
Akcil A, Erust C, Ozdemiroglu S, Fonti V, Beolchini F (2015) A review of approaches and
techniques used in aquatic contaminated sediments: metal removal and stabilization by chemical
and biotechnological processes. J Clean Prod 86:24–36
6 VAM: An Alternate Strategy for Bioremediation of Polluted Environment
173
The pollution of soils with heavy metals symbolized a worldwide ecological problem of great concern. Conventional methods for metal-contaminated soils are usually very costly and regularly induce undesirable effects on physico-chemical
properties of soil and biological activity. Chemical methods have many drawbacks
in the elimination of contaminants because they generally utilize chemical catalysts,
and applying them in larger polluted sites is complicated. Physical remediation
methods can totally eliminate heavy metal(loid)s from infected soil but can cause
negative effect in nature and are highly expensive. The utilization of microbial
cultures which destroy or alter heavy metal to less toxic compounds has become
gradually more famous in recent years. Bioremediation is a biological mechanism of
recycling wastes into another form that can be used by other organisms. Mycorrhizal
fungi can enhance nutrient uptake and also have degradation capacities for heavy
metal. Maximum research on fungal bioremediation has been carried out on laboratory. So further work is required to account the natural variables and increase their
applicability in large-scale polluted fields. This chapter may further contribute to the
substantial potential offered by fungal diversity in various habitats and their bioremediation potential.
Acknowledgment The authors wish to thank the Vice Chancellor Prof. KD Mishra,
R.D. University, Jabalpur, India.
Conflict of Interest: The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
Abedin MJ, Cotter-Howells J, Meharg AA (2002) Arsenic uptake and accumulation in rice (Oryza
sativa L.) irrigated with contaminated water. Plant Soil 240(2):311–319
Abramovitch RA, Bangzhou H, Abramovitch DA, Jiangao S (1999a) In situ decomposition of
PAHs in soil and desorption of organic solvent using microwave energy clodextrin enhanced
biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols in contaminated soil slurry.
Environ Sci Technol 41:5498–5504
Abramovitch RA, Huang BZ, Abramovitch DA (1999b) In situ decomposition of PCBs in soil
using microwave energy. Chemosphere 38:22–27
Adler T (1996) Botanical cleanup crews. Sci News 150:42–43
Afroz Z, Singh A (2014) Impact of pulp and paper mill effluent on water quality of river Aami and
its effect on aquatic life (fish). Global J Pharmacol 8:140–149
Ahmad I, Akhtar MJ, Zahir ZA, Jamil A (2012) Effect of cadmium on seed germination and
seedling growth of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars. Pak J Bot 44(5):1569–1574
Ahn C, Kim Y, Woo S, Park J (2007) Selective adsorption of phenanthrene dissolved in surfactant
solution using activated carbon. Chemosphere 69:1681–1688
Akcil A, Erust C, Ozdemiroglu S, Fonti V, Beolchini F (2015) A review of approaches and
techniques used in aquatic contaminated sediments: metal removal and stabilization by chemical
and biotechnological processes. J Clean Prod 86:24–36
6 VAM: An Alternate Strategy for Bioremediation of Polluted Environment
173