Soil mercury contamination sources, impacts on crops and soil organisms, and mitigation: a review.
Bello FA, Fasusi SA, Folorunsho AB, Lee JY, Okeke ES
Soil Health
PubMedVegetables and grains grown in mercury-contaminated soil absorb the metal, meaning it can end up on your plate — and the problem is more widespread than most people realize, reaching farmland near industrial zones and old mining areas.
Mercury is a toxic metal that industry and mining release into the environment, where it settles into farm soils. Once there, it stunts plant growth, strips leaves of their green color, and shrinks harvests. It also kills off the tiny organisms in soil that plants depend on to thrive. Scientists reviewed the best ways to clean it up and found that combining plant-based cleanup with chemical treatments works better than either method alone.
Key Findings
Mercury in soil reduces chlorophyll and protein content in plants, directly lowering crop yields.
Soil microorganisms exposed to mercury show tissue damage, reduced biomass, impaired reproduction, and increased mortality.
Chemical immobilization combined with phytoremediation and bioremediation was identified as the most effective multi-study mitigation approach.
chevron_right Technical Summary
Mercury pollution from mining and industry is building up in farm soils worldwide, harming crops and the microbes that keep soil healthy. This review finds that combining chemical treatment with biological cleanup methods offers the best path to reclaiming contaminated land.
Abstract Preview
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic element with distinctive characteristics and extensive applications in industries and agriculture. Nevertheless, inadequate management and unregulated discharge have resulte...
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