Genetic Engineering for Cadmium Removal from Wastewater

Cadmium (Cd) contamination has grown to be a serious environmental problem in recent years due to its poisonous nature. The health of humans and other living things is negatively impacted by the buildup of Cd in the environment. Scientists have looked to the use of genetic engineering as an alternative solution for cadmium elimination in order to solve this problem. High levels of metallic elements in the environment, soil, and water have far-reaching effects and are caused by industrial activity, mining, and inappropriate waste disposal. Metal pollution is a quiet issue that needs to be addressed with focused mitigation efforts. In order to protect the environment and guarantee the welfare of present and future generations, industrial development must be balanced with environmental care. There are various methods ranging from genetically engineered organisms (GMOs) to plant-based genetic engineering, and not to forget the enzyme engineering. So, talking about genetically modified microorganisms (GMOs), modifying bacterial strains is one of the main goals of genetic engineering for the elimination of cadmium. Because of their ability to grow quickly and adapt, bacteria can be made to express particular genes that improve how they interact with cadmium. This chapter discusses the idea of using plant and microbe-based genetic engineering to remove cadmium, going over phytoremediation techniques and plants modified for cadmium absorption.