Effect of Emerging Contaminants on Crops and Mechanism of Toxicity

Human activities have induced the rise of emerging pollutants in the environment, and, as a consequence, have increased the pressure on food production. This pressure is acute in developing countries where food demand exceeds the available resources. Pollutants are mainly of industrial origin and medical discharges. Pollutants can be translocated from soil to plants, and in turn be transferred to consumers. Pollutants include steroidal estrogens, organochlorine, ibuprofen, bromoform, caffeine, and methyl dihydrojasmonate. The concentration of pollutants in irrigated agricultural waters ranges from 10 to 5000 ng L−1. The average concentration of pollutants in crops ranges from 1 to 7500 ng kg−1. Approximately 10 μg of pollutant per person were detected in humans from consumption of fruit and vegetable. Plants and microbial-based phytoremediation and bioremediation of pollutants have been. Here we review the sources of contaminants, toxicity and remediation strategies.