干旱区绿洲土壤中重金属的形态分布及生物有效性研究

测定了Cd、Pb、Zn和Ni等重金属在不同处理土壤中的全量和各赋存形态,以及它们在盆栽试验油菜（Brassica cole）中的质量分数,并利用Pearson相关系数分析了该区土壤-油菜体系的生物有效性。结果表明,供试绿洲土壤原状土中,Cd、Pb、Zn和Ni均以稳定的残渣态形式存在;而在处理土壤中,重金属被钝化的量有限,Cd的存在形式主要以碳酸盐态为主,Pb、Zn和Ni则主要以铁锰氧化态为主。根据相关性分析,油菜根部和叶部的Ni质量分数均与土壤中Ni的各非残渣态分布系数有相关性,表明当土壤中Ni以非残渣态存在时,活动性Ni的质量分数较高,其被生物吸收利用的可能性也较大;油菜根部的Zn质量分数与土壤中Zn的碳酸盐结合态分布系数显著的正相关性;油菜各部位Cd和Pb的质量分数与土壤中Cd和Pb的各形态分布系数之间无显著相关关系。     

Phytoremediation potential of indigenous plants from Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam

This study was focused on determining Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn) in 33 indigenous plants and 12 soil in-situ plant samples in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam. The results showed that the soils of surveyed mining areas contained 181.2- 6754.3 mg kg(-1) As, 235.5-4337.2 mg kg(-1) Pb, 0.8- 419 mg kg(-1) Cd and 361.8-17565.1 mg kg(-1) Zn depending on the characteristics of each mining site. These values are much higher than those typical for normal soil. The heavy metal uptake into shoots and roots of 33 indigenous plant species was also determined. Two species of the plants investigated, Pteris vittata L. and Pityrogramma calomelanos L. were As hyperaccumulators, containing more than 0.1% heavy metals in their shoots. Eleusine indica L., Cynodon dactylon L., Cyperus rotundus L. and Equisetum ramosissimum (Vauch) accumulate very high Pb (0.15-0.65%) and Zn (0.22-1.56%) concentration in their roots. Additional experiments to clarify the potential of six these plants as good candidates for phytoremediation of heavy metal pollution soil are being carried out in our laboratory.     

Risk assessment for safety of soils and vegetables around a lead/zinc mine

Concentrations of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cd, Cu) were determined in soils and vegetables (chrysanthemum, spinach and four cultivars of Chinese cabbage from the area adjacent to a Pb/Zn mine in Shaoxing, Zhejiang province, China, and compared with the Chinese National Standards for Soil Environmental Quality. The accumulation of heavy metals in cabbage cv. Siyuegreen was investigated at different distances from the center of the mine. The vegetable plantation soils were polluted with Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn, especially by Pb and Cd. The levels of Pb and Cd were 20 and 30 times higher than the permitted standards, indicating that this Pb/Zn mining area is unsuitable for agricultural use. Chinese cabbage, chrysanthemum and spinach had different enrichment coefficients. The enrichment coefficient of Cd from soil to roots of chrysanthemum was >80% and from roots to leaves of cabbage cv. Shanghaigreen was >120%. These vegetables were polluted by heavy metals and could not be regarded as safe for human consumption. Environmental accumulation of heavy metals in the vegetable plantation soils was proportional to heavy metal accumulation in vegetables and both were inversely proportional to the distance from the lead/zinc mine.     

Diffusive gradient in thin-film (DGT) models Cd and Pb uptake by plants growing on soils amended with sewage sludge and urban compost

Food contamination by Cd and Pb is of increasing concern because contaminated composts and sewage sludges are used as soil fertilizers. Indeed, Cd and Pb from sewage sludge and compost can be transferred to plants and, in turn, to food. Predicting the quantity of metals transferred to plants is difficult and actual models are unable to give accurate concentrations. Therefore, new techniques are needed. For instance, diffusive gradient in thin-film (DGT) is commonly used to measure metal bioavailability in waters, sediments and soils, but DGT has not been well studied for metal uptake in plants. Moreover, actual models for soil–plant transfer are too complex and require many soil parameters. Here, we simplified the modelization of metal uptake by plants by considering only DGT fluxes and roots surfaces. We grew durum wheat in a greenhouse on sandy soils amended with urban compost or sewage sludge. Results show that Cd uptake was slightly underestimated when whole roots were considered as an absorbing surface. For Pb, the best estimation was found by using root tip surface. Overall, our model ranks correctly the samples but underestimates Pb uptake by 15 % and Cd uptake by 45 %. It is nonetheless a simpler way of modelling by using only DGT fluxes and root system morphology.     

铅锌冶炼厂土壤污染及重金属富集植物的研究

对株洲市铅锌冶炼厂生产区进行了植被和土壤调查。结果表明，该厂土壤污染以镉铅锌(Cd、Pb、Zn)最为严重，尤其是重金属镉在土壤中含量超过背景值高达208倍，分析原因主要是由于大气尘降和雨水淋洗等使得污染加重。实验采集并分析测定了9种植物中重金属富集量，首次报道了土荆芥是一种铅超富集植物，其体内Pb质量分数高达3888mg／kg。另一种植物商陆能大量富集镉，具有地下部向地上部转运能力强、生物量大、富集总量高的特点，有很大研究价值和应用潜力。另外，荨麻对Zn有较强富集能力，这3种植物可分别用于铅、镉和锌等3种重金属污染土壤的植物修复。     

Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens on metal phytoextraction from contaminated soil by Brassica juncea

The present study deals with metal uptake by Brassica juncea in the presence of Pseudomonas fluorescens Pf 27 for Zn, Cu and Cd removal from brass and electroplating-industry effluent-contaminated soil. Inoculation of P. fluorescens significantly (p<0.05) increased water soluble (Ws) and exchangeable (Ex) metal content in contaminated soil in laboratory conditions and also enhanced plant biomass by 99% and chlorophyll content by 91% as compared to uninoculated plants in the greenhouse. The metal uptake by B. juncea followed the pattern Zn>Cu>Cd and increased with increasing plant growth duration. P. fluorescens inoculation increased root and shoot uptake of Zn by 3.05 and 2.69, Cu by 3.19 and 2.82 and Cd by 3.11- and 2.75-fold, respectively. BCF value for each metal was>1 and increased by 44%, 42% and 38% for Zn, Cu and Cd, respectively, in inoculated conditions, whereas TF remained unaffected and followed the order Zn>Cd>Cu. P. fluorescens inoculation also enhanced Ws fraction of Zn, Cu and Cd by 99%, 77% and 90% and Ex by 107%, 70% and 93%, respectively. Results depicted that association of B. juncea with P. fluorescens could be a promising strategy for enhancing soil metal bioavailability and plant growth for successful phytoremediation of heavy metal contaminated soils.     

Phytoaccumulation prospects of cadmium and zinc by mycorrhizal plant species growing in industrially polluted soils

The natural vegetation growing along a wastewater channel was subjected to analyze the uptake of Cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn) and their subsequent accumulation in aboveground and underground plant parts. Species which were mycorrhizal and growing in soils receiving industrially contaminated wastewater were collected along with their rhizospheric soil samples. The nearby uncontaminated control (reference) area was also subjected to sampling on similar pattern for comparison. Both Cd and Zn concentrations were significantly higher in soils of the study area as compared to the reference site. Five plant species i.e. Desmostachya bipinnata, Dichanthium annulatum, Malvastrum coromandelianum, Saccharum bengalense, and Trifolium alexandrinum were analyzed for metal uptake. The maximum phytoaccumulation of Cd was observed in Desmostachya bipinnata (20.41 μg g⁻¹) and Dichanthium annulatum (15.22 μg g⁻¹) for shoot and root tissues, respectively. However, Malvastrum coromandelianum revealed maximum Zn accumulation for both the shoot and the root tissues (134 and 140 μg g⁻¹, respectively). The examination of cleared and stained roots of the plants from both the areas studied revealed that all of them were colonized to a lesser or a greater degree by arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The Cd hyperaccumulating grasses i.e. Desmostachya bipinnata and Dichanthium annulatum, from study area had smaller root:shoot (R/S) ratio as compared to those growing on reference area indicating a negative pressure of soil metal contamination. The lower R/S ratio in the mycorrhizal roots observed was probably due to increased AM infection and its mediatory role in soil plant transfer of heavy metals. Furthermore, comparatively lower soil pH values in the study areas may have played a key role in making the overall phytoavailability of both the metals. Consequently variations in Cd and Zn tissue concentration among species were observed that also indicate the phytoaccumulation potential of the native species.     

螯合剂和AM菌根对玉米吸收重金属及重金属化学形态的影响

通过温室根箱盆栽试验研究4种螯合剂EDTA、EDDS、AES和IDSA与AM菌根单一或联合对植物吸收重金属的影响,并通过改进的BCR三步法分析了玉米Zea mays L.菌根根际重金属的化学形态变化。AES和IDSA处理显著提高了玉米地上部重金属的吸收,对Cd、Cu的作用最为显著,Cd质量分数是对照的6.2倍和6.3倍,Cu质量分数是对照的21.8倍和7.7倍。AM＆amp;EDDS处理Cd的质量分数是EDDS处理的6.4倍,较单一AM处理增加了120.7%;AM＆amp;AES处理的Pb质量分数较之AES处理增加了71.5%,AM＆amp;IDSA较之IDSA处理亦增加了32.0%。AM＆amp;AES、AM＆amp;IDSA处理较之单一AM处理,Zn质量分数增加了134.1%和21.8%,Cu质量分数前者是后者的8.4倍和3.3倍,Pb质量分数前者是后者的11.9倍和8.7倍。添加螯合剂处理较之对照亦显著提高了玉米根部重金属的质量分数（P＆lt;0.05）,其中EDTA处理Pb质量分数是对照的5.0倍,AES和IDSA处理Cu质量分数增加了229.1%和131.0%。AM与螯合剂联合处理后,玉米根部Cd质量分数较之单一螯合剂处理降低,与地上部呈相反趋势;AM＆amp;EDDS处理较之EDDS处理,Zn质量分数增加了48.6%,AM＆amp;AES与AES处理对比亦增加了24.6%;AM＆amp;EDTA、AM＆amp;EDDS和AM＆amp;AES较之AM处理玉米根部Zn质量分数分别增加了70.0%、90.9%和51.3%,Cu质量分数前者是后者的2.6倍、1.8倍、4.0倍, Pb质量分数前者是后者的4.5倍、4.2倍和2.8倍。AM处理下根际土壤Zn、Cu、Pb结合态相对含量明显高于非根际。结果表明,新型螯合剂AES和IDSA对玉米地上部和根部重金属的吸收积累有较明显的促进作用;螯合剂和AM菌根联合提高了单一接种AM菌根或者添加螯合剂时玉米对重金属的吸收积累量,强化了植物提取的效果;AM菌根改变了根际土壤中重金属的形态,菌根的存在使得重金属的形态由松结合态向紧结合态转移,降低了重金属的生物有效性及过量重金属对宿主植物的毒害。     

Uptake and accumulation of potentially toxic elements in colonized plant species around the world’s largest antimony mine area,China

To provide information on reclamation of multi-heavy metal polluted soils with conception of phytostabilization, a field survey on the uptake and accumulation of potentially toxic elements such as antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in colonized plant species around the world’s largest antimony mine area, China, was conducted. Samples including leaves and shoots (including roots and stems) of colonized plants as well as rhizospheric soils were collected from eight sampling zones in the studied area. The results showed that the contents of Cu, Zn, and Pb in rhizospheric soils below plants were comparable to the corresponding background values of Hunan province, otherwise Sb, Cd, and As contents were extremely high (17–106, 17–87, and 3–7 times of the corresponding background values). The highest concentration of Sb was found in Aster subulatus (410 mg kg^?1); Cd, As, and Zn were in Herba bidentis bipinnatae (10.9, 264, and 265 mg kg^?1, respectively); and Cu was in Artemisia lavandulaefolia (27.1 mg kg^?1). It also exhibited that all the contents of As in leaves were several times of those in shoots of plants, Cd and other heavy metals showed in a similar pattern in several studied species, implying that the uptake route of these heavy metals via foliar might contribute to the accumulation. With high bioconcentration factors of heavy metals (more than 1, except for Zn), together with the growth abundance, Herba bidentis bipinnatae was considered as the most suitable colonized species for phytostabilization of the multi-heavy metal pollution in soils on this antimony mine area.     

4种草对铅锌尾矿污染土壤重金属的抗性与吸收特性

盆栽试验的结果表明,高羊毛、早熟禾、黑麦草、紫花苜蓿在纯尾矿污染土壤或经处理的尾矿污染土壤上都能生长,但在处理的土壤上生长的植物长势明显优于对照,其中紫花苜蓿的生物量所受影响比其他几种草坪草更大,说明其重金属抗性低于其他几种植物。单位面积上 4 种植物体内重金属质量分数高低均为 w(Zn)>w(Pb)>w(Cu)>w(Cd),但每种植物对 Cd、Pb、Zn 和 Cu 的吸收质量分数和分布均不相同,一般为根系质量分数大于茎叶。加入改良剂(CaCO3)和有机肥(菜枯)使生长在铅锌尾矿污染土壤上的 4 种草坪草生物量显著增加,植物体中的 Cd、Pb、Zn 质量分数下降,但 Cu 质量分数反而上升,结果单位面积上草坪草吸收各重金属元素的量均有所增加,可见利用改良措施与草坪草相结合的方法来修复重金属污染土壤具有可行性。     

不同来源重金属污染的土壤对水稻的影响

采用人工污染土壤、尾矿砂、污泥等不同载体的污染源来模拟土壤污染 ,研究其对水稻生长、吸收养分和吸收重金属的影响。结果表明 ,不同污染载体对水稻生长的影响不同 ,其影响的大小顺序为人工污染土壤 >尾矿砂 >污泥 >尾矿砂 +污泥。不同污染载体对水稻吸收重金属的影响亦不同 ,以纯化学试剂的形式添加到土壤中的重金属最易被提取出来 ,植物从中吸收的Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd最多 ,而从以污泥为污染载体的土壤中吸收的Zn、Pb、Cd最少。研究表明 ,用添加纯化学试剂的方法来模拟污染土壤对生态与环境的影响是可行的 ,确定土壤负载容量是安全的 ,因为在实验条件下它对供试植物的影响最明显     

Hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens (Ganges ecotype) response to increasing levels of dissolved cadmium and zinc

Hyperaccumulation of metals by plants involves at least three processes: efficient absorption by roots, efficient root-to-shoot translocation and hypertolerance through internal detoxification. In this study, Thlaspi caerulescens was separately exposed to Cd and Zn at 0, 50, 100 and 200 μ M for 7 d to monitor plant responses in hydroponics. Significant dose-dependent accumulation was observed for both metals, mainly in roots (up to 3.2 and 9.2 mg g ^?1 for Cd and Zn, respectively). However, Cd was more phytotoxic in terms of plant growth and photosynthesis. This higher toxicity was also evidenced by MetPLATE bioassay. Root exudation was significantly correlated to Cd and Zn translocation (r>0.85) proving its involvement in facilitating metal uptake. As for antioxidative responses, plants reacted to Cd and Zn by broadly exhibiting an elevation of glutathione reductase activity before declining at 200 μ M due to higher phytotoxicity. By contrast, superoxide dismutase activity was unlikely to be affected by both metals. Root-to-shoot apoplastic flow was traced using a fluorescent dye (trisodium-8-hydroxy-1,3,6-pyrenetrisulfonic acid; PTS), whose concentration in leaves increased to a certain extent with Cd and Zn accumulation, indicating that heavy metals have a comparable effect to drought or salinity in promoting the passive diffusion of water and solutes. Nevertheless, Cd at 200 μ M hindered the diffusion of PTS and consequently affected the apoplastic transport in plants.     

叶面施硅对水稻籽实重金属积累的抑制效应

采用盆栽方法,以硅酸钠和正硅酸乙酯为硅源分别配制纳米硅制剂,以水稻(Oryza sativa L.)品种"优优128"为供试植物,在Cd(5mg·kg-1、10mg·kg-1、50mg·kg-1三个水平)、Pb(200mg·kg-1)、Cu(250mg·kg-1)、Zn(300mg·kg-1)复合污染土壤进行种植,在水稻生长期内(苗期、分蘖期、抽穗期)进行叶面喷施纳米硅,研究纳米硅对水稻籽实生长状况及吸收重金属元素的影响,并对两种不同硅源的纳米硅的使用效果进行了比较。结果表明,随Cd污染质量分数增加,水稻百粒质量及单株穗质量均显著降低(P<0.01);Cd、Pb、Zn在籽实中质量分数均增高,而Cu在籽实中质量分数降低。金属元素在籽实中的吸收系数顺序为Cd>Zn>Cu>Pb,表明Cd极易向籽实中迁移。随土壤Cd质量分数增加,水稻籽实中各金属元素的积累量都有所降低。重金属复合污染条件下,叶面施用两种硅制剂均可以缓解水稻的毒害效应,且和施无机硅相比,施有机硅对水稻重金属毒害的缓解效果更显著。表现为叶面施用硅后,水稻百粒质量及单株穗质量均显著提高(P<0.05);且籽实中Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn的吸收量在喷施硅制剂后均显著降低(P<0.05);籽实中重金属元素的吸收系数和积累量均表现出降低的趋势。尤其是随着Cd处理质量分数的增高,施硅对重金属在籽实中积累的抑制效应越显著。这表明叶面施硅在重金属污染的水稻田污染防治中具有应用价值。文章所用的纳米硅制剂,制备简单,对于大面积推广硅肥极为有利。     

Heavy metal contamination of soil,and bioaccumulation in vegetables irrigated with treated waste water in the tropical city of Varanasi,India

The present study was conducted to determine the heavy metal contamination in soil with accumulation in plants in waste water irrigated areas. Results revealed that waste water contained lower concentrations of Cr, Zn, Cu, and Pb except Cd (0.03) than the permissible limits prescribed by the World Health Organization. The maximum metal concentrations occurred in Brassica oleracea (Zn 63.80, Cu 12.25, Cr 10.65, Pb 3.63, and Cd 0.56 mg Kg^?1).The metal enrichment (EF of Cd 1.9, Cr2.9, Zn 4.8, Cu 6.5, and Pb 15.5) and degree of contamination (CF of Cd 2.9, Cr 2.0, Zn 2.3, Cu 2.7, and Pb 2.2) showed that accumulation of the five toxic metals increased during sewage irrigation as compared with the reference values, other Indian regions and globally. However, based on WHO standards for heavy metal contamination of soil and irrigation water, our data does not ensure safe levels for food.     

Effect of cropping systems on the mobility and uptake of Cd and Zn

A field experiment was carried out to determine the effect of different land use systems such as continuous grass and agricultural crops rotation on the bioavailability of heavy metals in soils contaminated by former excessive sewage sludge application. The results show that Cd and Zn concentrations increased to 2 and 3.5 folds within 3 cuts of grass, respectively. Even 10 years after the end of excessive sewage sludge application the concentration of Cd in winter and summer wheat is 3.4 and 2.5 folds higher than the control, respectively. Zn concentration increased by two folds for both crops. In conclusion, the uptake depends on plant species and the degree of soil contamination. The availability of heavy metals was not changed with time.     

烟气脱硫石膏对滩涂围垦土壤重金属解吸及残留形态的影响

滩涂围垦土壤是重金属等难降解污染物的主要最终归宿场所之一,其重金属的解吸将影响重金属的迁移性、生物有效性和潜在毒性,研究重金属的解吸对土壤污染评价、修复及环境容量预测至关重要.研究了烟气脱硫石膏对广州市南沙滩涂围垦土壤重金属的解吸效果,并分析了烟气脱硫石膏对重金属形态的影响.在离心管中称取20.0 g过0.25mm筛土样,加入20 mL水和不同量的烟气脱硫石膏,在室温下于恒温振荡器振荡,风干研碎后用原子吸收分光光度法测定重金属全量,并用Tessier连续提取法研究了处理前后重金属形态变化.研究结果表明,随着脱硫石膏施用量的增加,经过振荡离心后的滩涂围垦土壤中重金属质量分数先急剧下降,之后变化趋于平缓.与原土相比各重金属最大解吸率分别为:Cd 30.38%,Cu17.73%,Ni 15.00%,Zn 14.19%,Pb 9.46%,Cr 8.89%.比较处理前后重金属的形态变化,发现各重金属的可交换态解吸率均达50%以上,并且重金属碳酸盐结合态质量分数也有减少.说明烟气脱硫石膏能降低土壤对重金属的吸附,经振荡离心后能降低土壤中重金属的毒性和生物可利用性.     

Heavy metal concentration in soil and woody plants in a quarry

This study determined the concentration of three heavy metals zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd) in soil and in a woody plant species, Milicia excelsa, at Ishiagu quarry, Nigeria. The highest soil concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd in soil were obtained at 1?m from the quarry site. In M. excelsa, the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb, and Cd were 3.12–9.1, 3.9–6.01, and 0.51–1.12?mg?kg^?1, respectively. There were significant positive correlations between Cd and Zn (r?=?0.963) and Cd and Pb (r?=?0.974) in plants as well as between Cd and Pb (r?=?9.84) in soil. The level of Cd in soil reflected significant pollution compared to average global concentrations in soils.     

Assessment of As and Heavy Metal Contamination in the Vicinity of Duckum Au-Ag Mine, Korea

In order to assess the potential of As and heavy metal contamination derived from past mining activity and to estimate the human bioavailability quotients for As and heavy metals. Tailings, soils and crop samples were collected and analysed for As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in the tailings were 68.5, 7.8, 99, 3,754 and 733 µg g^–1, respectively. Maximum Pb concentration in tailings was up to 90 times higher than its tolerable level. The concentrations of these metals were highest in the soils from the dressing plant area, and decreased in the order: farmland soil to paddy soil. In particular, some of the soils from the dressing plant area contained more than 1% of Pb and Zn. The pollution index ranged from 0.19 to 1.93 in paddy soils, and from 1.47 to 3.60 in farmland soils. The average concentrations of heavy metals in crops collected from farmland were higher than those in rice stalks or rice grains, and higher than the internationally accepted limits for vegetables. Element concentrations extracted from farmland soils within the simulated human stomach for 1 h are 9.4 mg kg^–1 As, 3.8 mg kg^–1 Cd, 37 mg kg^–1 Cu, 250 mg kg^–1 Pb and 301 mg kg^–1 Zn. In particular, the extracted concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn are in excess of the tolerable levels. The results of the simple bioavailability extraction test (SBET) indicate that regular ingestion (by inhalation and from dirty hands) of soils by the local population could pose a potential health threat due to long-term toxic element exposure.     

Cd和Cu在草甸棕壤-植物系统中行为特性的研究

在沈阳生态站开展了重金属迁移积累行为特性的试验研究，探讨了不同重金属元素在土壤及作物体内迁移积累变化规律。外源重金属元素Cd、Cu施入土壤后，无论是低剂量还足高剂量处理，水田土壤Cd元素已迁移到45cm的深度，而Cu元素迁移到30cm的深度。早田土壤低剂量和高剂量处理Cd迁移到30cm，而Cu元素只有高剂量处理迁移到30cm的深度。土壤Cd、Cu元素向下层迁移的量微乎其微，重金属元素大多滞留在土壤表层。水稻、玉米吸收的Cd大部分积累在作物体的根和茎叶中，而Cu大部分积累在作物体的根系中，Cd、Cu籽实吸收量占植物体总吸收量的1．16％～3％。水稻、玉米地上部吸收Cd的量〉地卜部吸收Cu的量，在作物体中Cd的迁移能力强于Cu的迁移能力。     

Heavy metals and soil microbes

Heavy metal pollution is a global issue due to health risks associated with metal contamination. Although many metals are essential for life, they can be harmful to man, animal, plant and microorganisms at toxic levels. Occurrence of heavy metals in soil is mainly attributed to natural weathering of metal-rich parent material and anthropogenic activities such as industrial, mining, agricultural activities. Here we review the effect of soil microbes on the biosorption and bioavailability of heavy metals; the mechanisms of heavy metals sequestration by plant and microbes; and the effects of pollution on soil microbial diversity and activities. The major points are: anthropogenic activities constitute the major source of heavy metals in the environment. Soil chemistry is the major determinant of metal solubility, movement and availability in the soil. High levels of heavy metals in living tissues cause severe organ impairment, neurological disorders and eventual death. Elevated levels of heavy metals in soils decrease microbial population, diversity and activities. Nonetheless, certain soil microbes tolerate and use heavy metals in their systems; as such they are used for bioremediation of polluted soils. Soil microbes can be used for remediation of contaminated soils either directly or by making heavy metals bioavailable in the rhizosphere of plants. Such plants can accumulate 100 mg g^?1 Cd and As; 1000 mg g^?1 Co, Cu, Cr, Ni and 10,000 mg g^?1 Pb, Mn and Ni; and translocate metals to harvestable parts. Microbial activity changes soil physical properties such as soil structure and biochemical properties such as pH, soil redox state, soil enzymes that influence the solubility and bioavailability of heavy metals. The concept of ecological dose (ED₅₀) and lethal concentration (LC₅₀) was developed in response to the need to easily quantify the influence of pollutants on microbial-mediated ecological processes in various ecosystems.