Advanced approaches for bioremediation of emerging pollutants: Development of a sustainable and green environment

Environmental pollution resulting from xenobiotics and other resistant compounds has become a major concern for both ecological and human well-being. Due to their persistent nature and high toxicity, contaminants like heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), plastics, and a range of agricultural chemicals linger in the environment for prolonged durations. This persistence leads to enduring and serious risks to ecosystems as well as public health. In response to this challenge, bioremediation has gained recognition as a sustainable and eco-friendly strategy for mitigating environmental contamination. Bioremediation employs various microorganisms, including both aerobic and anaerobic species, to detoxify and remove harmful substances from polluted environments. This technique has proven effective in the remediation of a broad range of pollutants, such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, pesticides, and industrial wastes. Various strategies such as microbial bioremediation, phytoremediation, and enzymatic bioremediation have proved to be quite effective for reducing environmental pollution. The aim of this review is to elaborate a critical review of recently emerged bioremediation methodologies and strategies as the usage of microorganisms as bioremediation tools, progress through genetic engineering, and other alternative methods that are used for monitoring the bioremediation protocols. It also discusses recent developments and the potential of bioremediation as a revolutionary approach to global pollution control, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of this technique.