Challenges of Using Whole-Cell Bioreporter for Assessment of Heavy Metal Bioavailability in Soil/Sediment

Soil and sediment contamination with heavy metals (HMs) is a critical environmental issue, posing significant risks to both ecosystems and human health. Whole-cell bioreporter (WCB) technology offers a promising alternative to traditional detection techniques due to its ability to rapidly assess the bioavailability of pollutants. Specifically, lights-on WCBs quantify pollutant bioavailability by measuring bioluminescence or fluorescence in response to pollutant exposure, demonstrating comparable accuracy to traditional methods for quantitative pollutant detection. However, when applied to soil and sediment, the signal intensity directly measured by WCBs is often attenuated due to interference from solid particles, leading to the underestimation of bioavailability. Currently, no standardized method exists to correct for this signal attenuation. This review provides a critical analysis of the benefits and limitations of traditional detection methods and WCB technology in assessing HM bioavailability in soil and sediment. Based on the approaches used to address WCB signal attenuation, correction methods are categorized into four types: the assumed negligible method, the non-inducible luminescent control method, the addition of a standard to a reference soil, and a pre-exposure bioreporter. We provide a comprehensive analysis of each method's applicability, benefits, and limitations. Lastly, potential future directions for advancing WCB technology are proposed. This review seeks to establish a theoretical foundation for researchers and environmental professionals utilizing WCB technology for pollutant bioavailability assessment in soil and sediment.