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Recent Advances in Microbial Remediation Techniques for Xenobiotics-Polluted Soil

Abstract:

Rapid industrialization, growth in the human population combinedly lead to bulk release of xenobiotic substances (e.g. drugs, food additives, hydrocarbons, pesticides and personal care products) into the environment. Global market projection rates strongly indicate that environmental burden posed by xenobiotics is in increasing trend. Thus, there is a high level of global concern over these environmental pollutants because of their human toxicity, ecotoxicity and long-term persistence in the environment. One of the immediately available and the most viable solutions for the removal of xenobiotics from environmental media (soil and water) is microbiologically mediated approach, called ‘bioremediation’. Bioremediation offers undisputable benefits in the restoration of contaminated sites, in terms of cost, technology, operation. Keeping in view of the advantages of bioremediation, this chapter has been designed to address the emerging techniques in the area of bioremediation, and we are in opinion that such insights will decrease the gap between laboratory and field-level execution of bioremediation. Besides these, information related to the occurrence, impact and fate of xenobiotics in the environment, role of microorganisms in the degradation of xenobiotics has also been included in this chapter. Towards the end, future directions of research in microbial removal of xenobiotics from the environment has been discussed. Overall, this chapter can be a single source of information to understand the future threat posed by xenobiotics and how to combat this problem through microbiological treatments.