Anyiam Ngozi Donald^{1, 2,}, Pene Barikuma Raphael^{3, 4}, Oluwole James Olumide², Okoro Felicitas Amarachukwu⁵

Owing to the increasing industrial revolution in recent times, the pollution of aquatic and soil environments by heavy metals has been on the increase. The heavy metals generated from industrial activities can endanger humans as well as other living organisms. These heavy metals are hazardous and persist in the environment posing a great threat to public health. In order to address this serious environmental problem, gamut of remedial strategies are currently being applied with each having its merits and demerits. Interestingly, the physicochemical remediation strategies can be considered as one of the best and viable techniques in rehabilitating heavy metal contaminated sites, especially water and soil. The main advantages of the physicochemical remediation strategies stem from its high removal efficiency, speedy recovery of contaminants, ease of implementation and operational convenience. Hence, the scope of this review encompasses a brief account of heavy metal pollution, its sources, toxic effects and a critical review of the current physicochemical remedial approaches utilised in the removal of heavy metals, which ultimately restores polluted environmental media back to their original status. This study is significant because it sensitises the general public on the dangers of heavy metal pollution and at the same time provides invaluable information to environmental scientists, public health workers and engineers who work to restore degraded ecosystems as well as sustainable ways to protect human and ecosystem health.

heavy metal, environment, pollution, public health, physicochemical, strategies