Metal and Metalloid Contamination

This book brings together the consequences and mitigation strategies of metal and metalloid contamination in agroecosystem alone or in combinations with adversities imposed by climate fluctuations. It explores the molecular responses of crops to metal exposure on a genomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic levels. It also discusses the complex interactions between reactive oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur species and heavy metal toxicity while highlighting the pivotal role of secondary metabolites in mitigating this metal-induced toxicity and accumulation. Further, the book also covers defense mechanisms in crops, and the impact of soil supplements and nanotechnology-based interventions in reducing metal toxicity. It also explores the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning and IoT-driven technologies in detecting and monitoring this environmental pollution. Finally, it implements bioavailability-based risk assessments for soil heavy metals and discusses the strategies to mitigate the consequences of toxic metals contamination in the food chain. This book is an essential resource for researchers, agronomists, environmental scientists, and policymakers dedicated to advancing sustainable agricultural practices in the face of heavy metal contamination.