A free-enzyme catalyst for the bioremediation of environmental atrazine contamination.
Herbicide contamination from agriculture is a major issue worldwide, and has been identified as a threat to freshwater and marine environments in the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area in Australia. The triazine herbicides are of particular concern because of potential adverse effects, both on photosynthetic organisms and upon vertebrate development. To date a number of bioremediation strategies have been proposed for triazine herbicides, but are unlikely to be implemented due to their reliance upon the release of genetically modified organisms. We propose an alternative strategy using a free-enzyme bioremediant, which is unconstrained by the issues surrounding the use of live organisms. Here we report an initial field trial with an enzyme-based product, demonstrating that the technology is technically capable of remediating water bodies contaminated with the most common triazine herbicide, atrazine.
Scott
Colin
C
CSIRO Division of Entomology, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia. colin.scott@csiro.au
Lewis
Steve E
SE
Milla
Rob
R
Taylor
Matthew C
MC
Rodgers
Andrew J W
AJ
Dumsday
Geoff
G
Brodie
Jon E
JE
Oakeshott
John G
JG
Russell
Robyn J
RJ
D001280:Atrazine / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D001315:Australia; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002384:Catalysis; D006540:Herbicides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000737:chemistry*; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
D006540:Herbicides; D014873:Water Pollutants; D006867:Hydrolases; D001280:Atrazine