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4856998 
Journal Article 
Review 
Bioremediation of mercury: not properly exploited in contaminated soils! 
Mahbub, KR; Bahar, MM; Labbate, M; Krishnan, K; Andrews, S; Naidu, R; Megharaj, M 
2017 
Yes 
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
ISSN: 0175-7598
EISSN: 1432-0614 
SPRINGER 
NEW YORK 
101 
3 
963-976 
English 
28074219 
WOS:000392502600005 
Contamination of land and water caused by heavy metal mercury (Hg) poses a serious threat to biota worldwide. The seriousness of toxicity of this neurotoxin is characterized by its ability to augment in food chains and bind to thiol groups in living tissue. Therefore, different remediation approaches have been implemented to rehabilitate Hg-contaminated sites. Bioremediation is considered as cheaper and greener technology than the conventional physico-chemical means. Large-scale use of Hg-volatilizing bacteria are used to clean up Hg-contaminated waters, but there is no such approach to remediate Hg-contaminated soils. This review focuses on recent uses of Hg-resistant bacteria in bioremediation of mercury-contaminated sites, limitation and advantages of this approach, and identifies the gaps in existing research.