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Coupled Mechanistic Insight of Bioremediation of Emerging Contaminants in Soil Biogeochemical Cycles
Summary
This review examines how emerging contaminants including antibiotics, PFAS, flame retardants, pesticides, and micro- to nanoplastics interact with soil biogeochemical cycles and explores bioremediation strategies to address them. Researchers found that these pollutants can significantly reduce soil microbial diversity and enzymatic activity at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study highlights coupled bioremediation approaches that leverage natural soil processes to break down or immobilize these contaminants.
ABSTRACT Emerging contaminants (ECs), including antibiotics, per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), brominated flame retardants, pesticides, and micro‐ to nanoplastics, are increasingly detected in agricultural soils at concentrations ranging from 10 −2 to 10 2 ng g −1 (PFAS, PBDEs—polybrominated diphenyl ethers), 0.1 μg kg −1 to 1.5 mg kg −1 (antibiotics), and up to 10 6 particles kg −1 (microplastics). These pollutants hinder soil microbial diversity and enzymatic activity, reducing urease, dehydrogenase, and β‐glucosidase function by 15%–60% and decreasing nitrification–denitrification rates by up to 50%, thus disturbing the cycles of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. This review seeks to analyze the disruptions in soil nutrient cycles caused by emerging contaminants, investigate the microbial, enzymatic, and chemical mechanisms involved in contaminant transformation, and evaluate the role of coupled microbial–chemical interactions to foster soil restoration. Data indicate that biochar‐supported microbial consortia enhance sulfonamide degradation by 2.5‐fold, Fe/Mn oxides increase nitroaromatic reduction by 3–6 times, and microbial electrochemical technologies improve the removal of halogenated organics by up to 60%. These methods decrease the toxicity of ECs, restore redox equilibrium, and reestablish vital soil functions. The convergence of microbial metabolism, mineral catalysis, and conductive amendments establishes an effective framework for decreasing EC risks, restoring nutrient cycles, and sustaining long‐term soil fertility.