Toxicity and bioremediation of heavy metals contaminated tannery wastewater

The problem of wastewater from tanneries, which frequently contains a high concentration of toxic metals, represents one of the emerging environmental and health challenges in our society. Tannery industries are widely recognized as among the most hazardous, mainly due to the extensive use of various chemicals in converting animal skin into leather. It is imperative to take immediate action to protect the ecosystem by utilizing advanced, effective, and sustainable methods for remediating toxic metals released into the environment. All living things experience the adverse effects of these metals present in effluents. Recent advancements in microbe-based methods for managing heavy metals (HMs) represent a promising approach for detoxifying tannery effluents. Biological remediation is an interdisciplinary technology implemented for degrading organic and inorganic contaminants. Additionally, cultivating microbes to remove various hazardous pollutants represents innovative and promising bioremediation strategies. Various microbes have evolved to enhance detoxification techniques, mitigating the adverse consequences of inorganic metals. Furthermore, this chapter discussed how microorganisms, bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants are used for heavy metal biosorption.