Cadmium contamination in soil: Sources, toxicological impacts, advanced detection and sustainable remediation

Cadmium contamination of soil represents a critical global threat to agricultural productivity and ecosystem integrity. Effective risk management requires precise monitoring and sustainable remediation. However, the current approaches often lack integration, specificity, and ecological compatibility. This review outlines a comprehensive framework linking detection to remediation. Advances in biosensor technology encompassing antibodies, enzymes, DNA aptamers, and whole-cell systems enable sensitive on-site cadmium monitoring. Meanwhile, bioremediation has emerged as a core sustainable solution, utilizing plants and microorganisms to immobilize or remove cadmium via mechanisms such as biosorption and bioaccumulation. The performance of these biological systems can be further enhanced through strategies such as genetic engineering, construction of synergistic plant-microbe partnerships, and immobilization using novel materials. Persistent challenges include enhancing detection specificity and ensuring field-scale applicability. By integrating advanced monitoring with engineered biological interventions, this review provides an actionable pathway for mitigating cadmium-associated environmental risks and advancing ecologically compatible soil restoration technologies.