Research Keyword: heavy metals

Surface Display of Multiple Metal-Binding Domains in Deinococcus radiodurans Alleviates Cadmium and Lead Toxicity in Rice

Scientists created genetically engineered bacteria (Deinococcus radiodurans) that can grab and absorb harmful heavy metals like cadmium and lead from soil and water. When these specially designed bacteria colonize rice plant roots, they protect the plants from metal toxicity by removing metals from the environment and boosting the plant’s natural defense systems. This approach could help make rice safer to eat by preventing dangerous metal accumulation in crops grown in contaminated areas.

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Gigaspora roseae and Coriolopsis rigida Fungi Improve Performance of Quillaja saponaria Plants Grown in Sandy Substrate with Added Sewage Sludge

Researchers studied how two types of beneficial fungi (mycorrhizal and saprophytic) can help a Chilean tree called Quillaja saponaria grow better in sandy soil mixed with treated sewage sludge. When plants were inoculated with these fungi and given moderate amounts of sludge, they showed significantly improved growth. The saprophytic fungus alone produced the best results, increasing plant height by over 300%. This approach could help recycle sewage waste while growing useful plants that produce saponins used in medicine and industry.

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Enhancing environmental decontamination and sustainable production through synergistic and complementary interactions of actinobacteria and fungi

Actinobacteria and fungi are powerful microorganisms that can be used together to clean up polluted environments and improve agriculture. When these two types of organisms work together in co-cultures, they can degrade toxic substances like pesticides and heavy metals more effectively than either could alone. This approach offers a sustainable way to address environmental contamination while potentially reducing reliance on chemical treatments.

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Microbial community diversity and geochemistry inform bioremediation of molybdenum-contaminated groundwater

When coal plants burn coal, they produce waste that can contaminate groundwater with molybdenum, a toxic element. Scientists studied how bacteria naturally found in contaminated groundwater can be used to clean up this pollution. They discovered that certain bacteria can tolerate high molybdenum levels and safely remove it from water by storing it inside their cells using a detoxification system similar to how our bodies handle toxins.

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Multi-metal-resistant Staphylococcus warneri strain TWSL_1: revealing heavy metal-resistant genomic features by whole-genome sequencing and analysis

Scientists discovered a special type of bacteria called Staphylococcus warneri TWSL_1 from textile factory wastewater that can survive and remove dangerous heavy metals like lead, cadmium, and copper from contaminated water. By analyzing the bacteria’s complete genetic code, researchers identified specific genes that help this bacteria resist and detoxify these toxic metals. This discovery suggests the bacteria could be used as a natural cleaning solution to remove heavy metal pollution from industrial wastewater, offering an eco-friendly alternative to current cleanup methods.

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Nanostructured Aerogels for Water Decontamination: Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Aerogels are ultra-light, ultra-porous materials made mostly of air that can effectively remove toxic pollutants from contaminated water. These materials can absorb heavy metals, oil spills, dyes, and pesticides from water, offering a promising solution to global water contamination problems. Scientists are developing new types of aerogels using sustainable methods to make them more practical and affordable for large-scale water treatment applications in communities worldwide.

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Using Fungi in Artificial Microbial Consortia to Solve Bioremediation Problems

This review explores how combinations of fungi and other microorganisms can clean up polluted soil and water more effectively than using individual microbes alone. Fungi are particularly valuable because they produce powerful enzymes that can break down toxic substances like heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, and plastics. By carefully designing microbial teams and sometimes immobilizing them in gels or on materials, scientists can achieve much higher removal rates of pollutants while maintaining environmental safety.

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Impact of bottom ash addition on Pleurotus ostreatus cultivation on coffee ground substrate

Researchers studied how to grow oyster mushrooms using leftover coffee grounds mixed with coal ash as a growing medium. They found that adding small amounts of coal ash (1-5%) to coffee grounds actually improved the mushroom quality by reducing harmful heavy metals while keeping beneficial nutrients like phosphorus and zinc. This discovery suggests a promising way to recycle both industrial waste and food waste while producing safer, more nutritious mushrooms.

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Fruit-Based Fermented Beverages: Contamination Sources and Emerging Technologies Applied to Assure Their Safety

This review examines safety concerns in popular fermented fruit drinks like wine and cider. It identifies major contamination risks including toxic compounds produced by molds (mycotoxins), harmful byproducts from fermentation (biogenic amines), pesticide residues, heavy metals, and plastic particles. The authors recommend combining traditional safety practices with modern technologies like electric fields and high-pressure treatments to ensure these beverages remain safe to drink while maintaining their health benefits.

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Bioactive Compounds and Antioxidant Activity of Boletus edulis, Imleria badia, Leccinum scabrum in the Context of Environmental Conditions and Heavy Metals Bioaccumulation

This study examined three popular edible mushroom species from Poland to understand their nutritional benefits and safety. While all three mushrooms are rich in beneficial compounds like antioxidants and immune-boosting polysaccharides, Boletus edulis (porcini) accumulates concerning levels of cadmium from soil. The research shows these mushrooms are safe in normal amounts, but eating excessive quantities of porcini mushrooms could exceed safe limits for toxic metals, especially for people in polluted areas.

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