Recent advances in on-site monitoring of heavy metal ions in the environment

Excess of heavy metal ions (HMIs) in the environment has numerous adverse effects on ecology, human health and other living organisms. In recent years, this problem has raised serious concerns as a consequence of industrialization and has led to the development of devices for detection and monitoring of HMIs in the environment. Although there are various analytical tools that are used, they are expensive, tedious, difficult to handle, bulky and not portable. These issues have addressed in the development of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices that are economical, portable and easier to handle. These devices also offer the advantages of on-site monitoring of HMIs, a task that is difficult to perform with traditional devices and this helped in advancing development of point-of-care testing recent years. Therefore, this review encompasses the recent advancements in on-site monitoring of HMIs using point-of-care testing devices that are based on colorimetric, fluorometric and electrochemical techniques.