Microbial consortia-mediated arsenic bioremediation in agricultural soils: Current status, challenges, and solutions

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 917; p. 170297
• Main Authors: Kaya, Cengiz, Uğurlar, Ferhat, Ashraf, Muhammed, Hou, Deyi, Kirkham, Mary Beth, Bolan, Nanthi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 20.03.2024
• Subjects: Arsenic bioremediation; Methylation-demethylation; Microbial consortia; Oxidation-reduction; Soil quality volatilization; Soil quality volatilization; Methylation-demethylation; Arsenic bioremediation; Oxidation-reduction; Microbial consortia
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170297

Arsenic poisoning in agricultural soil is caused by both natural and man-made processes, and it poses a major risk to crop production and human health. Soil quality, agricultural production, runoff, ingestion, leaching, and absorption by plants are all influenced by these processes. Microbial consortia have become a feasible bioremediation technique in response to the urgent need for appropriate remediation solutions. These diverse microbial populations collaborate to combat arsenic poisoning in soil by facilitating mechanisms including oxidation-reduction, methylation-demethylation, volatilization, immobilization, and arsenic mobilization. The current state, problems, and remedies for employing microbial consortia in arsenic bioremediation in agricultural soils are examined in this review. Among the elements affecting their success include diversity, activity, community organization, and environmental conditions. Also, we emphasize the sensitivity and accuracy limits of existing assessment techniques. While earlier reviews have addressed a variety of arsenic remediation options, this study stands out by concentrating on microbial consortia as a viable strategy for arsenic removal and presents performance evaluation and technical problems. This work gives vital insights for tackling the major issue of arsenic pollution in agricultural soils by explaining the potential methods and components involved in microbial consortium-mediated arsenic bioremediation. [Display omitted] •Arsenic contamination in agricultural soils threatens crop production and human health.•Microbial consortia can bioremediate arsenic by various mechanisms in soil.•Diversity, activity, community, and environment impact microbial consortia.•Existing assessment techniques have sensitivity and accuracy limitations.•Microbial consortia offer a viable and sustainable solution for arsenic bioremediation.