Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is an unessential trace element in plants that is ubiquitous in the environment. Anthropogenic activities such as disposal of urban refuse, smelting, mining, metal manufacturing, and application of synthetic phosphate fertilizers enhance the concentration of Cd in the environment and are carcinogenic to human health. In this manuscript, we reviewed the sources of Cd contamination to the environment, soil factors affecting the Cd uptake, the dynamics of Cd in the soil rhizosphere, uptake mechanisms, translocation, and toxicity of Cd in plants. In crop plants, the toxicity of Cd reduces uptake and translocation of nutrients and water, increases oxidative damage, disrupts plant metabolism, and inhibits plant morphology and physiology. In addition, the defense mechanism in plants against Cd toxicity and potential remediation strategies, including the use of biochar, minerals nutrients, compost, organic manure, growth regulators, and hormones, and application of phytoremediation, bioremediation, and chemical methods are also highlighted in this review. This manuscript may help to determine the ecological importance of Cd stress in interdisciplinary studies and essential remediation strategies to overcome the contamination of Cd in agricultural soils.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 111887 |
Journal | Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety |
Volume | 211 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Mar 15 2021 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The authors are thankful to the Provincial Government of Gansu, China for supporting the research. We are also thankful to reviewers for helping us to improve the quality of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
Keywords
- Cadmium
- Mechanisms
- Remediation
- Sources
- Toxicity
PubMed: MeSH publication types
- Journal Article
- Review