Biodegradation of organochlorine insecticides-A review

With the emerging concern of environmental safety, the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants’, 2001, has identified “Dirty dozen” on the basis of their toxicity, persistence, long distance transport and potentials to accumulate in fatty tissue. Among them nine are pesticides and most surprisingly, all of them are organochlorine insecticides and are still reported from different part of the world. After their exposure, degradation to non-toxic compounds is required for a safer environment. Except chemical and physical methods, biodegradation by microbes is one of the best alternative methods, having greener approach. Several microbes have been isolated and identified, capable of degrading organochlorine insecticides. Studies have tried to identify the most probable metabolic pathways, involving different enzymes. Biotechnological advances have helped to identify the genes, producing required enzymes. The knowledge of enantioselectivity, stereochemistry and reaction mechanisms has guided to draw the real picture of biodegradation of organochlorine insecticides. But, unfortunately poor performances in field condition have challenged researchers for further development, using tools of scientific advances and thus the journey of research continues.