ACS ES&T Water · 2021 · 227 citations · 113 references
Environmental ElectrochemistryEngineeringRecent TrendsPesticide-residue AnalysisBiochemical SensorsBiosensorsDrinking WaterChemical EngineeringEnvironmental ChemistryBiosensing SystemsAnalytical ChemistryNanosensorCation SensingSensor ApplicationsBiosensor StabilityWater QualityElectrochemical BiosensorsEcotoxicologyWater AnalysisHeavy Metal ToxicantsSensorsEnvironmental EngineeringElectroanalytical SensorEnvironmental ToxicologyWearable Biosensors
Water pollution from industrial, agricultural, wastewater, and stormwater sources threatens health and ecosystems, prompting EU directives that set concentration limits for chemicals in drinking, surface, and groundwater. The review seeks to assess progress in electrochemical biosensors for detecting pesticides and heavy metals, aiming to provide rapid, reliable, and sensitive detection to meet EU chemical limits. It surveys electrochemical biosensor designs, evaluates their performance, discusses current challenges, and proposes future research directions such as improved analytical performance, stability, shelf life, and integration with microfluidics and wireless technologies. The review concludes that electrochemical biosensors are valuable tools for protecting water resources and should be further developed.
The release of chemicals into water systems has resulted in pollution in many parts of the world, threatening human health and aquatic ecosystems. Sources of chemical discharge include industry, agricultural, wastewater treatment plants, and stormwater overflows. To combat water pollution, the European Union has introduced several directives that set concentration limits for chemicals in drinking water, surface water, and groundwater. To meet these limits, it is essential that rapid, reliable, and sensitive analytical detection systems be developed and put into use. This Review presents the progress made in the development of electrochemical biosensors for environmental toxicants (pesticides and heavy metals) over the past seven years (2014–2020). For those unfamiliar with this field of research, the concept of a biosensor is introduced followed by a critical evaluation of their performance in detecting the toxicants. Current challenges are discussed as well as potential avenues for future research, including the demands for enhanced analytical performance, improved biosensor stability and shelf life, and greater integration with microfluidic devices and wireless database technologies for remote environmental sensing applications. We believe that this Review will be beneficial and enhance awareness and appreciation of the role that electrochemical biosensors can play in protecting our environment and water resources.
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