Gadolinium Dilemma: Navigate Water Contamination in the Face of Indispensable Medical Advancements

The rare earth element, Gadolinium Gd(+3) has strong paramagnetic nature, due to which it is being extensively explored in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The Gd (+3) ions are converted into different chelate forms by using different derivatives of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and administered as contrast agents. However, repetitive doses of Gd (+3) ion cause harmful effects toward physiological processes of human health; and when these metal complexes are released into the surface water as medical sewages, they disrupt even the aquatic balance. This review article aims to raise awareness about the health issues caused due to the elevated use of the metal ion in medical field and its related toxicity. It also highlights about the development of some cost effective, innocuous, natural plant-based as well as synthetic metal-based nanomaterials, which may help in the breakdown or removal of the Gd (+3) metal ion from the waste water making it less toxic.