The colossal rise in human populations, industrialization, and increased human activities along coastal regions have cumulatively caused an escalation in the presence of metals in marine environments. Although naturally released in the oceans through weathering and leaching processes, metal discharge has drastically increased due to anthropogenic activities such as industrial discharge, wastewaters, agricultural effluents, fossil fuel combustion
Metal-toxicity is becoming an issue of increasing environmental concern since metals are (even at low concentrations), persistent, have an accumulative behaviour (namely in sediments), and are capable of long-range transport via suspended particles. Also, they can either remain dissolved or suspended in the water column and become bioavailable to be incorporated by organisms, entering food chains. Despite the several attempts to circumscribe and contain metal contamination studied and suggested to-date, the enormity of this issue seems to outrun the remediation measures. There is an imperative need to restore the ecological balance of these ecosystems by providing effective counter measures for remediation of metals in the marine environment.
Environmental biotechnology provides pivotal tools for assessing, monitoring, remediating and mitigating the adverse effects of metal pollution in the marine domain. Several marine organisms, ranging from algae to plants and invertebrates to vertebrates, have metal sorption or metal accumulation abilities. They provide valuable information on the temporal and spatial variations of bioavailable metals within the marine environment. Marine bacteria and fungi are considered suitable biosensors for metal toxicity measurements, for monitoring metal bioremediation processes, and can act as metal detoxification agents. Bioremediation processes involving marine bacteria, fungi, algae and plants are efficient, eco-friendly and less expensive options of containing metal pollution compared to conventional (chemical and physical) methods.
Marine biotechnological techniques addressing metal pollution have been steadily developing; today, researchers have created several environmental applications-oriented processes that help combat metal pollution in the marine environment. However, there are restrictions to the applicability of certain processes and others are not widely popularized. Thus, a re-awakening and a compilation on the topic of metal pollution in the marine environment is necessary. In this context, our Research Topic aims to bring together the most recent advances and biotechnological approaches, tools, and solutions that may assist in the assessment, monitoring, detoxification, and remediation of metals in marine environments.
We hope to provide momentum on the development of marine biotechnological tools to cope with metal pollutants by compiling original research papers and critical reviews. Contributions on the following issues would be considered appropriate for this collection:
1. Biosensors as early warning systems for detecting the presence of metals, monitoring these pollutants and assess their effects
2. The monitoring of metals using marine species
3. Biomarkers to assess biochemical responses to metal exposure or to metal contamination
4. Impact of metals on the physiology of marine dwellers
5. Early warning bio-tools to assess ecosystem health status concerning pollution by metals
6. Bioaccumulation as a tool for monitoring metals in marine environments
7. Bioremediation processes as tools for metal detoxification and metal remediation in marine ecosystems
8. Comparative toxicity of metals by marine test organisms at different trophic levels
Nevertheless, contributions pertaining to other related issues will also be welcome.
The colossal rise in human populations, industrialization, and increased human activities along coastal regions have cumulatively caused an escalation in the presence of metals in marine environments. Although naturally released in the oceans through weathering and leaching processes, metal discharge has drastically increased due to anthropogenic activities such as industrial discharge, wastewaters, agricultural effluents, fossil fuel combustion
Metal-toxicity is becoming an issue of increasing environmental concern since metals are (even at low concentrations), persistent, have an accumulative behaviour (namely in sediments), and are capable of long-range transport via suspended particles. Also, they can either remain dissolved or suspended in the water column and become bioavailable to be incorporated by organisms, entering food chains. Despite the several attempts to circumscribe and contain metal contamination studied and suggested to-date, the enormity of this issue seems to outrun the remediation measures. There is an imperative need to restore the ecological balance of these ecosystems by providing effective counter measures for remediation of metals in the marine environment.
Environmental biotechnology provides pivotal tools for assessing, monitoring, remediating and mitigating the adverse effects of metal pollution in the marine domain. Several marine organisms, ranging from algae to plants and invertebrates to vertebrates, have metal sorption or metal accumulation abilities. They provide valuable information on the temporal and spatial variations of bioavailable metals within the marine environment. Marine bacteria and fungi are considered suitable biosensors for metal toxicity measurements, for monitoring metal bioremediation processes, and can act as metal detoxification agents. Bioremediation processes involving marine bacteria, fungi, algae and plants are efficient, eco-friendly and less expensive options of containing metal pollution compared to conventional (chemical and physical) methods.
Marine biotechnological techniques addressing metal pollution have been steadily developing; today, researchers have created several environmental applications-oriented processes that help combat metal pollution in the marine environment. However, there are restrictions to the applicability of certain processes and others are not widely popularized. Thus, a re-awakening and a compilation on the topic of metal pollution in the marine environment is necessary. In this context, our Research Topic aims to bring together the most recent advances and biotechnological approaches, tools, and solutions that may assist in the assessment, monitoring, detoxification, and remediation of metals in marine environments.
We hope to provide momentum on the development of marine biotechnological tools to cope with metal pollutants by compiling original research papers and critical reviews. Contributions on the following issues would be considered appropriate for this collection:
1. Biosensors as early warning systems for detecting the presence of metals, monitoring these pollutants and assess their effects
2. The monitoring of metals using marine species
3. Biomarkers to assess biochemical responses to metal exposure or to metal contamination
4. Impact of metals on the physiology of marine dwellers
5. Early warning bio-tools to assess ecosystem health status concerning pollution by metals
6. Bioaccumulation as a tool for monitoring metals in marine environments
7. Bioremediation processes as tools for metal detoxification and metal remediation in marine ecosystems
8. Comparative toxicity of metals by marine test organisms at different trophic levels
Nevertheless, contributions pertaining to other related issues will also be welcome.