Heavy metal polluted water: Effects and sustainable treatment solutions using bio-adsorbents aligned with the SDGs

Water contamination by heavy metals poses serious threats to human health and ecological systems, necessitating innovative and sustainable treatment approaches. This review explores the sources and toxicological impacts of heavy metals, focusing on dose–effect relationships as defined by global health and environmental authorities, including WHO and USEPA. It evaluates advanced removal methods, emphasizing bio-adsorbents derived from agricultural waste and plant biomass as cost-effective, sustainable, and regenerable alternatives to conventional chemical adsorbents. These bio-sourced materials demonstrate high specificity and efficiency in heavy metal adsorption, making them promising candidates for large-scale water treatment. However, their performance can be limited in diverse water matrices without targeted modifications. A thorough understanding of both water characteristics and bio-adsorbent properties is essential for optimizing their application. This review underscores the potential of bio-adsorbents as environmentally friendly solutions for mitigating heavy metal pollution, aligning with global sustainable development goals.