Copper Compounds: A Narrative and Regulatory Review of Agricultural Uses, Risks, and Environmental Assessment

Heavy metals and pesticides in medicinal plants: environmental sources, plant responses, and human health risk assessment.

A critical review of mechanistic insights and technological advancement for the amelioration of Pb and Cd through phytoremediation.

Heavy metal contamination is a major environmental concern due to its persistence, bioaccumulation, and long-term impacts on ecosystems and human health. Among toxic metals, cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) are particularly harmful because of their high toxicity and carcinogenic potential, posing serious risks to plants, animals, and humans even at low concentrations. These metals often enter soil and water through industrial activities, mining, agricultural inputs, and improper waste disposal. Conventional remediation methods, such as chemical treatment, soil excavation, and stabilization, have been used to manage contaminated sites; however, they are often costly, labour- intensive, and may cause secondary environmental pollution, creating a need for more sustainable alternatives. Phytoremediation has emerged as an eco-friendly and cost-effective approach that utilizes the natural ability of plants to absorb, accumulate, detoxify, or stabilize contaminants from soil, water, and air using solar energy. The objectives of this review are to examine the mechanisms of phytoremediation and evaluate recent advance technologies that enhance its efficiency, with a focus on plant growth-promoting microorganisms, biochar, nanomaterials, CRISPR/Cas9-based genetic engineering, isotope monitoring, and AI/ML tools. The novelty of this review lies in its integrated assessment of these emerging technologies as complementary strategies for advancing sustainable heavy metal remediation. Overall, these developments highlight the growing potential of phytoremediation as a sustainable strategy for environmental cleanup. Nevertheless, challenges related to large-scale application, plant tolerance to heavy metals, and long-term ecological sustainability remain, requiring further research to enhance its practical implementation in environmental management.

From Fields to Bodies: The Human Cost of Pesticide and Fertilizer use

Fertilizers and pesticides have played a vital role in boosting agricultural output, but their extensive use has raised major concerns regarding human health. Exposure to these agrochemicals can occur through various routes, including direct contact in the workplace, consumption of contaminated food and water, and environmental pollution. This review examines the different types and chemical makeup of these substances, along with how they can harm the body through mechanisms such as hormonal disruption, oxidative damage, nervous system toxicity, and potential links to cancer. Documented health effects include both immediate poisoning and long-term conditions like cancer, fertility problems, and neurological illnesses. Studies from around the world, including clinical and occupational research, underline the rising health burden tied to these chemicals. Although global safety standards exist, enforcement is often lacking, particularly in developing regions. This article highlights the pressing need for safer farming practices like integrated pest management, the use of organic inputs, greater awareness, and improved policy measures to protect public health while maintaining food security.

Iron and Selenium Biofortification of Crops: Concepts, Soil Constraints, Strategies, and Perspectives

Iron (Fe) and selenium (Se) deficiencies are global health concerns associated with adverse health outcomes. Plants constitute a dietary source of these elements, particularly for individuals following plant-based diets. However, plant Fe availability is limited by soil processes that reduce Fe mobility and uptake, whereas Se accumulation is constrained by the low abundance of Se in soils. Increasing Fe and Se concentrations in edible plant parts through biofortification represents a sustainable strategy to alleviate micronutrient deficiency. This review examines the mechanisms governing Fe and Se uptake, translocation, metabolism, and genetic regulation, and discusses current biofortification strategies, including agronomic practices, natural and microbial-based approaches, conventional breeding and marker-assisted selection, transgenic technologies, and nanoparticles. While cereals remain the principal targets of large-scale biofortification programs, recent advances in horticultural crops are also highlighted because of their growing nutritional and commercial importance. Current evidence indicates that integrated agronomic and genetic approaches are more effective than single interventions, although simultaneous Fe and Se biofortification remains largely underexplored. Successful biofortification is also strongly influenced by soil properties, nutrient interactions, and crop genotype. Emerging tools, including plant–microbe interactions and synthetic biology, offer promising opportunities to enhance micronutrient accumulation and bioavailability. Further research should optimize integrated Fe–Se biofortification strategies while addressing agronomic and socioeconomic constraints to support their large-scale adoption and contribute to sustainable food systems.

Systematic review of emerging environmental contaminants: sources, environmental fate, and impacts.

Objectives This review aimed to synthesize recent advances in the understanding of emerging contaminants (ECs), including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, microplastics and nanoplastics, endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and engineered nanomaterials. It critically assessed their sources, environmental pathways, transformation mechanisms, and ecological and human health impacts, while identifying knowledge gaps and future research priorities. Methods A systematic literature review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework. Peer-reviewed research articles and critical reviews were retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed. Emphasis was placed on studies that used advanced analytical techniques, including high-resolution mass spectrometry, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and biosensor-based detection methods. Results The findings indicated that ECs are characterized by high environmental persistence, complex transformation pathways, bioaccumulation, and trophic transfer potential. Reported impacts included endocrine disruption, genotoxicity, antimicrobial resistance, and ecological imbalance. Across global environmental compartments, these pollutants pose long-term risks to ecosystems and human health. Their distinctive partitioning behavior and environmental persistence challenge standard ecological assessment frameworks and underscore the need for comprehensive toxicological evaluations and robust regulatory oversight to mitigate long-term biological accumulation and adverse physiological effects in aquatic and terrestrial wildlife. Conclusion This review highlights the urgent need for improved regulatory frameworks, standardized monitoring approaches, and sustainable remediation strategies for ECs. By integrating advanced analytical methods, computational tools, and circular economy principles, the review provides a timely contribution to environmental science and policy and supports informed decision-making for environmental protection and public health.

Dietary Aluminium Exposure and Human Health: Sources, Bioavailability, Toxicokinetics, and Health Risk Assessment

Background/Objectives: Aluminium is a widespread environmental element and food contaminant to which the general population is continuously exposed, primarily through diet and drinking water. Although gastrointestinal absorption is generally low, bioavailability varies according to chemical form, food matrix, and interactions with dietary components. Prolonged exposure can nevertheless result in gradual tissue accumulation. This review summarises current evidence on dietary aluminium exposure, factors influencing its bioavailability, toxicokinetics, biological effects, gut microbiota interactions, and population-level health risk. Methods: A comprehensive narrative literature review was conducted using publications retrieved from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Original research articles, review papers, and reports issued by international organisations were critically evaluated with particular emphasis on dietary sources, drinking water, food additives, food contact materials, gastrointestinal absorption, toxicokinetics, biological mechanisms, gut microbiota, and health risk assessment. Results: Food represents the principal source of aluminium exposure in the general population, while drinking water usually contributes a smaller but continuous fraction of total oral intake. Dietary exposure varies substantially between populations and is influenced by food composition, processing practices, the use of aluminium-containing additives, and migration from food contact materials. Aluminium bioavailability is modified by chemical speciation and dietary constituents, including citrate, phosphates, silicates, phytates, polyphenols, and essential minerals. Despite limited absorption, prolonged exposure can lead to gradual aluminium accumulation, particularly in bone tissue and the central nervous system. Proposed biological mechanisms include oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, disruption of mineral homeostasis, and inflammatory signalling. Emerging evidence also indicates that aluminium may alter the gut microbiota, impair intestinal barrier integrity, and influence the gut–brain axis. Population exposure assessments show considerable regional variation, with some groups approaching or exceeding established tolerable weekly intake values. Conclusions: Dietary aluminium exposure represents a relevant issue in nutritional toxicology and food safety. Although current evidence does not establish that typical dietary exposure directly causes chronic disease, long-term exposure, differences in bioavailability, and the possibility of elevated intake in selected population groups justify continued monitoring and further prospective human studies. Future research should integrate dietary intake, aluminium speciation, nutritional status, biomarkers of internal exposure, and long-term health outcomes to improve risk assessment and support effective exposure-reduction strategies.