An Insight into the Ecological Risks and Mitigation of Heavy Metal Pollution in Aquatic Sediments and Marine Ecosystems

The aquatic ecosystems are important ecological and socio economic zones all over the world. However, a massive deterioration in the functionality of the aquatic zones has been observed globally in recent times due to an enormous rise of environmental pollution with ever increasing human population, urbanization, land reformation and industrialization. In spite of that, there is a dearth of an ample study for assessment of aquatic and sediment pollution and their effects on biogeochemical cycling, food chains and overall livelihoods of species including humans. Thus, there is an immediate necessity for digging into the status of aquatic sediment pollution, evaluation of the associated ecological risks and estimation of the probable pollution sources. Therefore, this review enlightens on the composition, concentrations, sources and spatial patterns of distribution of heavy metals affecting the global aquatic sediment pollution, their probable toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems, the modes of transfer through food chains, thereby affecting human health and use of aquatic plants for phytoremediation of heavy metals in aquatic ecosystems. This will lead to an understanding of the status and the factors influencing aquatic sediment pollution which will thereby be useful to monitor and manage the vast aquatic ecosystem and develop strategies for remediation in near future.