Heavy Metal Toxicity in Cereals: Uptake Mechanisms, Physiological Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies

Heavy metal (HM) toxicity is one of the growing concerns, posing a significant threat to food security. Its trace presence in the food is one of the major reasons for considering it as a threat, which makes it potentially dangerous and a widespread concern. Post-Green Revolution, production and, thereafter, nutrition were given attention, but in the present decade, HM toxicity, its uptake, physiological impact, and mitigation are the major research interests. Cereals are potent food materials that hold a huge consumer market. The presence of these HMs in cereals in higher concentrations than the standard makes them toxic to consume and has caused a global crisis. This toxicity is silently impacting the genetic homeostasis of the ecosystem and, most importantly, the human body. Frequent occurrence of carcinoma, genetic disorders, and phenotypic deformities is the major outcome of this contamination. Its presence in the soil threatens the microflora and fauna of the ecosystem, thus interrupting the complete natural process of energy exchange between the system and the surroundings. It is therefore of the utmost importance to understand the uptake and physiological mobilization of these HMs and their mitigation strategies for a sustainable & green ecosystem. The present review comprehensively analyzes the biological and ecological losses due to these HMs and their mitigation in plants with special reference to cereals.