review · Sustainability
Coastal ecosystems face mounting pressure from heavy metal pollution originating from industrial runoff, agricultural practices, urbanisation, and natural geological processes. Because heavy metals possess high stability and low degradation rates, they persist in coastal sediments, with their movement shaped by sediment dynamics, water circulation, and biogeochemical interactions. This contamination poses significant ecological threats through bioaccumulation and biomagnification, damaging fish, shellfish, algae, and marine mammals, while driving habitat degradation and biodiversity loss. Although existing pollution control frameworks and remediation methods exist, implementation remains difficult. Emerging remediation tools such as nanotechnology and bioremediation offer promising alternatives, yet they still require further validation. Addressing these environmental challenges demands interdisciplinary research, advanced ecological modelling, stakeholder engagement, and optimised sustainable management strategies suited to diverse coastal zones.
Coastal ecosystems provide vital services and maintain essential marine biodiversity, but persistent heavy metal contamination threatens these habitats through toxic accumulation in marine food webs. Clarifying how heavy metals move through coastal environments helps researchers and policymakers identify ecological threats, design better protective regulations, and preserve fragile coastal waters and dependent biological communities.
The review highlights practical remediation opportunities, particularly pointing to bioremediation and nanotechnology as innovative tools for environmental clean-up. Potential end users include environmental remediation practitioners, coastal management agencies, and regulatory authorities monitoring water and sediment quality. However, as the abstract states that these emerging technologies still require further validation, the work indicates an early-stage research and testing readiness level rather than a market-ready commercial product.
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Heavy metals originating from industrial runoff, agricultural practices, urbanization, and natural geological processes persist in coastal sediments due to their low degradation rates and high stability. Their cycling is influenced by sediment dynamics, water circulation, and complex interactions with biological and chemical factors. Heavy metal pollution demonstrates serious risks to coastal biota, including fish, shellfish, algae, and marine mammals through mechanisms such as bioaccumulation and biomagnification. These processes lead to biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and reduced ecosystem functionality. Current mitigation strategies for pollution control regulations and remediation techniques show promise but face challenges in implementation. Emerging technologies such as nanotechnology and bioremediation offer innovative solutions but require further validation. Knowledge gaps persist in understanding the long-term ecological impacts of heavy metal contamination and optimizing management strategies for diverse coastal ecosystems. Coastal ecosystems are vital for supporting biodiversity and providing essential ecosystem services, but they are increasingly threatened by heavy metal pollution—a pervasive environmental challenge that demands urgent attention. This review investigates the sources, characteristics, pathways, ecological impacts, and management strategies associated with heavy metal contamination in coastal environments. The review synthesizes findings from recent literature, employing a systematic approach to analyze natural and anthropogenic sources, contamination pathways, and the biogeochemical processes governing heavy metal cycling. Future research should focus on addressing these gaps through interdisciplinary approaches, integrating advanced modeling techniques, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable management practices. By prioritizing these efforts, we can safeguard coastal ecosystems and their essential services from the escalating threats of heavy metal pollution.
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DOI: 10.3390/su17020701
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