Bacteria resistant to heavy metals in coastal areas

One of today's major ecological concerns is the environmental impact caused by the anthropogenic release of heavy metals into natural environments since these pollutants are extremely ubiquitous and persistent. In high concentrations heavy metals are extremely toxic to bacteria and can influence their density and metabolic activity. In turn bacteria are capable of developing mechanisms of resistance to heavy metals and are important in bioremediation studies of areas contaminated by heavy metals. The aim of this study was therefore to analyse the occurrence and distribution of heavy metal-resistant bacteria in a coastal area.