Toxicology of Dimethoate and its Degradation by Biological, Chemical, and Photolytic Process

Dimethoate, an organophosphorus pesticide, is widely used in our crops to protect from different kinds of insects.This pesticide causes severe pollution of soil and groundwater and affects aquatic organisms, bees, plants, birds, earthworms, humans, and other animals by inhibiting largely acetylcholinesterase (AChE) enzymes.Its half-life is around 200 days in soil depending on temperature, pH, microorganisms, and organic contents, indicating its accumulation in soil after every use in agricultural fields.The primary metabolite of this pesticide, omethoate, is highly toxic than dimethoate.Thus, the pesticide needs to be degraded to protect our environment from its harmful effects.Biodegradation has received increased attention as a safe, eco-friendly, and cost-effective technique to decontaminate soil and water.Bacteria such as Kocuria turfanensis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Brucella sp., and Bacillus licheniformis, and fungi such as Aspergillus niger, Trichoderma koningii, and Penicillium notatum, and plants such as Typha latifolia, Nasturtium officinale, Amaranthus caudate, Phaseolus vulgari, and Lactuca sativa, are used to degrade dimethoate.In addition to biodegradation, a chemical process exists where different chemicals, including TiO 2 , ClO 2 , and acid-activated Fe (VI), are used.The combination of a chemical process with radiation displays increased efficiency of dimethoate degradation.Although several methods of degrading dimethoate pesticides are available, all processes are not convenient and eco-friendly.In this review, we have addressed the safe, eco-friendly, and convenient method of degrading dimethoate to protect our environment from its harmful effects.