ABSTRACT
Bioremediation can be efficient and performed at low costs; however, in many situations, several parameters require further study. Specifically, regarding pollution by potentially toxic metals (PTMs), the best approach is to reduce the use and to ensure the non-contamination of the environment by treating and correctly disposing of the contaminating waste. . The increased frequency of contamination of the soil and water by PTMs is a matter of great concern, particularly regarding human health and environmental preservation. Conventional methods of treatment are time-consuming and inefficient. In contrast, bioremediation is a sustainable alternative of great efficiency that can be performed by various microorganisms and biopolymers. Given the range of advantages provided by the use of bioremediation, studies should be performed to identify new microorganisms that possess high potential for decontamination or to identify molecules of microbial origin that can aid in the process of transforming pollutants by making this process more rapid and more sustainable. Many products such as certain electronic devices (cell phones, for example) and/or their components are sources of potentially toxic elements and are ‘quickly discarded’, thus increasing the levels of pollutants that are released into the environment. Therefore, in parallel with the development of remediation processes that are economically and environmentally sustainable, it is urgent to change the consumption paradigms that are commonly present in several ‘modern societies’.
