Right on target: using plants and microbes to remediate explosives

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

Abstract

While the immediate effect of explosives in armed conflicts is frequently in the public eye, until recently, the insidious, longer-term corollaries of these toxic compounds in the environment have gone largely unnoticed. Now, increased public awareness and concern are factors behind calls for more effective remediation solutions to these global pollutants. Scientists have been working on bioremediation projects in this area for several decades, characterizing genes, biochemical detoxification pathways, and field-applicable plant species. This review covers the progress made in understanding the fundamental biochemistry behind the detoxification of explosives, including new shock-insensitive explosive compounds; how field-relevant plant species have been characterized and genetically engineered; and the major roles that endophytic and rhizospheric microorganisms play in the detoxification of organic pollutants such as explosives.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1051-1064
Number of pages14
JournalInternational journal of phytoremediation
Volume21
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2019

Keywords

  • Biodegradation, Environmental
  • Environmental Pollutants
  • Explosive Agents
  • Plants
  • Soil Pollutants

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