Bioremediation of endocrine disruptors

Bioremediation has become a novel technique for the detoxification and clean-up of endocrine disruptors, which is now a global concern. Endocrine disruptors, which are known to be chemicals or compounds that interfere with the production, transportation, excretion, and overall activities of the endocrine system, have also emerged as a universal challenge. This is because endocrine disruptors are unavoidable, and exposure to these compounds can occur in places like homes, schools, farms, and water, food, and air. These endocrine disruptors range from naturally occurring phytoestrogens to phthalates found in plastics, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, bisphenol A, bisphenol S, phenol compounds, some pesticides, fungicides, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals. Some physical and chemical methods were previously utilized for the detoxification of endocrine disruptors, but their demerits included high environmental toxicity, high cost, and inability to completely detoxify these toxic pollutants. There is a growing attention towards the removal of endocrine disruptors from the environment through the utilization of the catalytic activity of some oxidative enzymes like oxidoreductases (lignin peroxidases, manganese peroxidases, laccases, tyrosinases). These enzymes are extracted from the microorganisms and immobilized on a carrier support, or used in their free form, or the whole microorganisms are used for the bioremediation. These approaches have gained universal acceptance because they are specific, efficient, and environmentally friendly. Immobilization technique has become a novel approach to enhance stability, enzyme activity, and also preserve the 3-dimensional structure of the enzyme in severe reaction conditions.