Environmental Advances (Jul 2022)
Strategies for bioremediation of pesticides: challenges and perspectives of the Brazilian scenario for global application – A review
Abstract
The increased use of pesticides by major agricultural players has resulted in various environmental pollution and serious health risks. In Brazil, the use of pesticides, such as glyphosate, 2,4-D and atrazine, constitute an important factor in enabling high agricultural productivity, however, they make the country one of the world's largest consumers of pesticides. An interesting way to degrade these pesticides is by bioremediation. Several conventional in and ex situ techniques have been successfully used to remediate these pesticides without releasing toxic compounds and contemplating the rapid bioremediation of contaminated sites. Advanced remediation techniques, such as nanobioremediation, plasmid-mediated remediation, and the use of enzymes can facilitate evaluation and prospect of application in large areas. However, each bioremediation technique has its own advantages and limitations. In practice, it is necessary to know the polluted site, as well as the characteristics, type and strength of the pesticide molecules. This study reviews the recent literature on the various bioremediation methods used in Brazil to remediate glyphosate, 2,4-D and atrazine and compares it with the strategies used worldwide. This paper also discusses some steps that could be taken to shift the use of laboratory-scale bioremediation to broader practical application. Moreover, to properly apply bioremediation in practice, new public policies and legislation are needed to hold polluters accountable, as well as interdisciplinary and international collaborations.
