Fate of Pesticides in the Environment and its Bioremediation

TLDR

Pesticide fate, persistence, and mobility are governed by the chemical and physical properties of the pesticide, site characteristics such as soil and groundwater, climate, biological populations, and user handling practices. The paper reviews the environmental presence and fate of persistent organic pesticides and evaluates detoxification options, with a focus on bioremediation strategies and their pros and cons. The review compiles literature on transport, transfer, and transformation processes affecting pesticide persistence and mobility, highlights key characteristics like biodegradability, and assesses in‑situ and ex‑situ bioremediation approaches.

Abstract

Abstract The present paper is an overview of the presence and fate of pesticides as persistent organic pollutants in the environment as well as of the potential for their detoxification, also combined with chemical and physical treatment. It contains information gathered from a range of currently available sources. The fate of pesticides in the environment is analyzed considering the processes that determine their persistence and mobility, grouped into transport, transfer and transformation processes. Few pesticide characteristics such as persistence, mobility and biodegradability are emphasized. The fate of a pesticide and the potential for its persistence and mobility from the site of application are considered to be affected by the chemical and physical properties of the pesticide, site characteristics such as soil and groundwater individuality, climate and local weather conditions, biological population, and the handling practices of the pesticide user. Bioremediation, as one of the most environmentally‐sound and cost‐effective methods for the decontamination and detoxification of a pesticide‐contaminated environment is discussed especially considering the factors affecting the biodegradability of pesticides such as biological factors and the characteristics of the chemical compounds. In situ and ex situ bioremediation as possible types of bioremediation activities are weighted up. Also, the paper includes some considerations for developing strategies regarding the choice of bioremediation technology, as well as advantages and disadvantages of the bioremediation of environmental components polluted with pesticides.