Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: In the past century, several explosive compounds have become the major soil contaminants causing health and economic challenges to the society. In the U.S. alone millions of hectares of land are contaminated by various forms of explosives. The two most dangerous explosives, 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) and hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (Royal Demolition Explosive; RDX), are major environmental pollutants in the USA and present distinct problems for bioremediation. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has classified these explosives as Class 1 carcinogens, which are retained in soil and are refractory to degradation. These explosives also seep into the underground water and may potentially contaminate drinking water. therefore, understanding the biology behind the metabolism of these explosives by microorganisms and plants is imperative to degrade these pollutants from the contaminated soil. Although the biotransformation of TNT has been studied in many organisms, particularly bacteria, the isolation of microorganisms that can solely utilize TNT for growth has remained elusive. In the recent past, several studies have identified and characterized plant enzymes involved in the reduction, conjugation and sequestration of TNT into plant cell walls [1]. In addition, transfer of bacterial nitro
Author: Santosh Kumar
Institution: University of Missouri–Kansas City
Language: English
Subfield: Pollution
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W2043596181