The public’s concern about soil pollution caused by toxic metals is growing. Microorganisms are critical players in biogeochemical processes including the transport and transformation of trace elements in the environment. Microbes are the oxidizers, reducers, or absorbents of many toxic elements (e.g., arsenic and antimony), increasing or decreasing their mobility, availability, and toxicity. Moreover, the microbe-mediated cycles of other elements such as carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and iron can have an indirect effect on the fate of toxic metals. However, research gaps remain regarding the mechanisms of microbe-mediated transport and transformation of toxic metals in soil. Filling these research gaps will aid in better environmental management and remediation.
The scope of this research topic includes, but is not limited to:
(1) The key microbes and genes involved in the transport and transformation of toxic metals in soils;
(2) The effects of microbe-mediated processes on the chemical and physical behaviors of toxic metals in soil;
(3) The relative importance of microbial and chemical processes in regulating the behavior of toxic metals in soil;
(4) Microbial applications and mechanisms for the remediation of soils contaminated by toxic metals.
The following studies, however, are not included:
(1) Simple description of microbial communities in different polluted soil samples without improving the understanding of the behavior of toxic metals;
(2) Pure biochemical studies in enzymes involved in the metabolism of toxic metals.
The public’s concern about soil pollution caused by toxic metals is growing. Microorganisms are critical players in biogeochemical processes including the transport and transformation of trace elements in the environment. Microbes are the oxidizers, reducers, or absorbents of many toxic elements (e.g., arsenic and antimony), increasing or decreasing their mobility, availability, and toxicity. Moreover, the microbe-mediated cycles of other elements such as carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and iron can have an indirect effect on the fate of toxic metals. However, research gaps remain regarding the mechanisms of microbe-mediated transport and transformation of toxic metals in soil. Filling these research gaps will aid in better environmental management and remediation.
The scope of this research topic includes, but is not limited to:
(1) The key microbes and genes involved in the transport and transformation of toxic metals in soils;
(2) The effects of microbe-mediated processes on the chemical and physical behaviors of toxic metals in soil;
(3) The relative importance of microbial and chemical processes in regulating the behavior of toxic metals in soil;
(4) Microbial applications and mechanisms for the remediation of soils contaminated by toxic metals.
The following studies, however, are not included:
(1) Simple description of microbial communities in different polluted soil samples without improving the understanding of the behavior of toxic metals;
(2) Pure biochemical studies in enzymes involved in the metabolism of toxic metals.
