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Microbial debromination of hexabromocyclododecanes

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Abstract

Hexabromocyclododecanes (HBCDs), a new sort of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), are globally prevalent and recalcitrant toxic environmental pollutants. HBCDs have been found in many environmental media and even in the human body, leading to serious health concerns. HBCDs are biodegradable in the environment. By now, dozens of bacteria have been discovered with the ability to transform HBCDs. Microbial debromination of HBCDs is via HBr-elimination, HBr-dihaloelimination, and hydrolytic debromination. Biotic transformation of HBCDs yields many hydroxylated and lower brominated compounds which lack assessment of ecological toxicity. Bioremediation of HBCD pollution has only been applied in the laboratory. Here, we review the current knowledge about microbial debromination of HBCDs, aiming to promote the bioremediation applied in HBCD contaminated sites.

Key points

Microbial debromination of HBCDs is via hydrolytic debromination, HBr-elimination, and HBr-dihaloelimination.

Newly occurred halogenated contaminants such as HBCDs hitch the degradation pathway tamed by previously discharged anthropogenic organohalides.

Strategy that combines bioaugmentation with phytoremediation for bioremediation of HBCD pollution is promising.

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Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (31870104, 32070114, 31770130 and 32000072).

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FY wrote the manuscript and prepared the pictures. YYL rearranged the references and submitted the manuscript. TP, HW, YRW, and ZH gave directions to the manuscript and revised it.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Zhong Hu.

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The authors declare they have no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Yu, F., Li, Y., Wang, H. et al. Microbial debromination of hexabromocyclododecanes. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 105, 4535–4550 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11095-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-021-11095-3

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