Bioremediation of carbendazim from contaminated water samples by systemic herbicide-degrading indigenous microbial consortium: A review

The review work examines the bioremediation of carbendazim (CBZ), a widely used systemic fungicide, through the application of bioaugmented microbial consortia. Recent research has demonstrated the effectiveness of using indigenous microbial strains, particularly when combined with fungal species such as Aspergillus versicolor, to enhance the degradation of CBZ in contaminated greywater. In a study, a bioaugmented consortium achieved degradation efficiencies of 94.4% for CBZ over a 10-day period, showcasing the potential of this approach in mitigating pesticide residues from environmental matrices. The present work discusses various mechanisms employed by these microbial consortia, focusing on enzymatic pathways that facilitate the breakdown of CBZ into less harmful metabolites. The study highlights the importance of employing toxicity indicators such as the Environmental Potential Risk Indicator for Pesticides (EPRIP) and the Attenuation Factor Index (AFI) to assess the ecological impacts of CBZ in water systems. Notably, CBZ exhibited a higher EPRIP value (42.1) compared to other pesticides, indicating significant environmental risk. By integrating specific bacterial strains like Pseudomonas and Bacillus subtilis with fungi, researchers have paved the way for more effective bioremediation strategies. This review underscores the promise of bioaugmentation techniques not only for degrading CBZ but also for enhancing overall wastewater treatment processes, thus contributing to sustainable agricultural practices and environmental health.