Work

The detoxification paradox: Rethinking microbial dehalogenation in environmental remediation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Microbial dehalogenation, central to bioremediation, frequently falls short of achieving complete detoxification, often yielding mobile and toxic intermediate compounds—a critical oversight we term as the “detoxification paradox”. This commentary analyzes the mechanistic basis of this paradox and questions the conventional reliance on pollutant removal alone as a performance metric. We advocate for a paradigm shift toward active biological design, outlining a novel, multi-level engineering framework spanning molecular, cellular, and system scales to steer microbial processes toward genuine detoxification and ensure safer environmental remediation.

Source: Eco-Environment & Health

DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2025.100190

Authors: Qian Wang, Shuai Wang, Yueli Hu, Jiaxin Wu, Shanyuan Niu

Institution: Nanjing University

Language: English

Topic: Microbial bioremediation and biosurfactants

Subfield: Pollution

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Clean water and sanitation

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,500