Heavy Metals in Soils: Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems and Food Crop Plants

The pollution of soil by heavy metals (HMs) is a critical global challenge, threatening environmental health, agricultural productivity, and food security. Heavy metals persist in the environment, bioaccumulate in plants, and disrupt essential physiological processes, leading to oxidative stress, reduced photosynthesis, stunted growth, and even plant death. These effects compromise food quality and quantity, exacerbating global food insecurity and posing serious risks to human health due to their long half-life and bioaccumulation potential.

Heavy Metals in Soils: Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems and Food Crop Plants explores the multifaceted challenges posed by heavy metal contamination in soils and offers innovative solutions to mitigate its impact. Key features include:

• A global overview of heavy metal occurrence in terrestrial ecosystems, their consequences, and potential solutions.
• Cutting-edge techniques for the detection and remediation of heavy metals in soils.
• Insights into heavy metal metabolism in plants and its effects on crop productivity.
• An in-depth analysis of how soil contamination by heavy metals contributes to food insecurity, threatening both food safety and supply.

This book is an essential resource for researchers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to address the urgent issue of heavy metal pollution and its far-reaching implications for agriculture, food security, and environmental sustainability.

Sesan Abiodun Aransiola is a notable Ph.D holder in Environmental Microbiology in the Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria. He obtained his first degree (B.Tech) and Master Degree (M.Tech) from the same Department in 2009 and 2014 respectively. He has demonstrated his research expert in the production of vermicasts from vermicoposting (Vermitechnology) of organic wastes to assist plants in the remediation of polluted soil with heavy metals. Currently, he is a Lecturer at the Department of Microbiology, University of Abuja, Nigeria. his expertise spans environmental health, phytoremediation, vermicomposting, marine resources and bioremediation of pollutants soil including plastics. Aransiola’s research is deeply rooted in innovative solutions for soil and water remediation, with significant contributions to microbial biotechnology and waste management. He is an award-winning researcher and has over 100 publications including book chapters, research and review articles of good international repute with high impact factor. He has co-edited scientific books of global interest which include microbial biotechnology for bioenergy (Elsevier). Ecological interplays in microbial enzymology, prospects for soil regeneration and its impact on environmental protection, Soil microbiome in green technology sustainability, marine bioprospecting for sustainable blue-bioeconomy (Springer). Microbial biofilms – applications and control, marine greens: environmental, agricultural, industrial and biomedical applications, Emerging Contaminants in Food and Food Products, Phytoremediation in Food Safety: Risks and Prospects, Biotoxins in Food: Threats and Detection (CRC Press) with many more in the process. Also, has worked to the rank of an assistant chief scientific officer at Bioresources Development Centre, National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency, Nigeria where he was involved in the uses of vinasse (a by-product of ethanol) as bio-fertilizer to reclaim polluted soil for agricultural purposes. Dr. Aransiola’s academic journey is complemented by a robust teaching career and active involvement in community services, where he leverages his knowledge to foster sustainability. His contributions continue to impact both academia and the broader environmental sciences community. Abiodun is a member of Nigerian Society for Microbiology and American Society for Microbiology among others

Oluwatoyin Joseph Gbadeyan is a scientific researcher with a career that spans more than a decade in material development, nanotechnology, waste valorisation, bioeconomic, circular economy, and additive manufacturing. I received academic training in Nigeria and South Africa (UKZN, CSIR, and DUT). My research primarily focuses on composite, biocomposite, nanocomposite, tribology, and valorising wastes, where various market-based products are produced from these feedstocks using robust and sustainable technologies. I have contributed to developing novel biorefinery-based technologies and synthetic black composite brake pads to revitalize South Africa's biomass and transportation industries. He also actively mentors postgraduate research students (BSc Hons, MSc & Ph.D.) recruited in these projects in collaboration with our South African universities. I received several academic awards, the most notable being the Innovator of the Year 2022, a prize for producing a novel material for friction material (brake pad). I also contributed immensely to his field through peer-reviewed publications and mentorship of students. His research has been published in top-tier international journals (with 45 scientific articles and >20 articles as the first author and). I hold a Google Scholar H-index of 15 with > 747 Citations. In addition to these academic accolades, he has secured research grants from various funding sources/organizations, and these are collectively worth millions of Rands while at the DUT and CSIR.

Innocent Ojeba Musa is a distinguished Environmental Microbiologist with a rich academic and professional background. He holds a PhD in Environmental Microbiology from the Federal University of Technology Minna, where he also completed his Bachelor's degree (B.Tech) in 2011 and his Master's degree (M.Tech) in 2016. His academic pursuits have laid a solid foundation for his impactful career. With over a decade of experience in the Manufacturing and Production industry, He transitioned to academia, where he currently serves as the Head of Department of Biological Sciences and Lecturer at Skyline University Nigeria. His industry experience significantly informs his teaching and research, allowing him to blend practical insights with theoretical knowledge. He has an impressive record of over 70 publications in both international and national journals, in addition to contributing to several book chapters. His research focuses on critical environmental challenges, including Bioremediation, Nano/Micro Plastics, Phytoremediation, Heavy Metal contamination, Waste Management, Global Warming, Reclamation of Polluted Sites, and Rhizoremediation. His work has not only advanced scientific understanding but also provided practical solutions to pressing environmental issues. In addition to his research, He is a committed educator and mentor. He has supervised numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students, guiding them through their research projects and helping to shape the next generation of environmental scientists. He is an active member of both the Nigeria Society for Microbiology and the American Society for Microbiology, reflecting his engagement with the broader scientific community and his commitment to staying at the forefront of his field. He also regularly participates in conferences, seminars, and webinars, further contributing to his professional development and the dissemination of his research findings. He stands out as a respected figure in Environmental Microbiology, recognized for his research contributions, industry experience, and dedication to education.

Naga Raju Maddela received his M.Sc. (1996–1998) and Ph.D. (2012) in Microbiology from Sri Krishnadevaraya University, Anantapuramu, India. During his doctoral program in the area of Environmental Microbiology, he investigated the effects of industrial effluents/insecticides on soil microorganisms and their biological activities and he is working as Faculty in Microbiology since 1998, teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students. He worked on Prometeo Investigator (fellowship received from SENESCYT) at Universidad Estatal Amazónica, Ecuador during 2013-15, received "Postdoctoral Fellowship" (2016–2018) from Sun Yat-sen University, China. He also received external funding from "China Postdoctoral Science Foundation" in 2017, internal funding from "Universidad Técnica de Manabí" in 2020. He participated in national / international conferences, and presented research data in China, Cuba, Ecuador, India and Singapore. Currently, he is working as a Full Professor at the Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador. He has been actively publishing scientific articles, books (authored and edited) and chapters since 2007. As of now, he published 125 articles, 30 books and 50 book chapters.