IJERPH, Vol. 20, Pages 4964: Bioremediation of Heavy Metals by the Genus Bacillus

IJERPH, Vol. 20, Pages 4964: Bioremediation of Heavy Metals by the Genus Bacillus

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health doi: 10.3390/ijerph20064964

Authors: Monika Wróbel Wojciech Śliwakowski Paweł Kowalczyk Karol Kramkowski Jakub Dobrzyński

Environmental contamination with heavy metals is one of the major problems caused by human activity. Bioremediation is an effective and eco-friendly approach that can reduce heavy metal contamination in the environment. Bioremediation agents include bacteria of the genus Bacillus, among others. The best-described species in terms of the bioremediation potential of Bacillus spp. Are B. subtilis, B. cereus, or B. thuringiensis. This bacterial genus has several bioremediation strategies, including biosorption, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-mediated biosorption, bioaccumulation, or bioprecipitation. Due to the above-mentioned strategies, Bacillus spp. strains can reduce the amounts of metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, chromium, arsenic or nickel in the environment. Moreover, strains of the genus Bacillus can also assist phytoremediation by stimulating plant growth and bioaccumulation of heavy metals in the soil. Therefore, Bacillus spp. is one of the best sustainable solutions for reducing heavy metals from various environments, especially soil.