About this Research Topic

Background

Water is an infinite resource, yet access to potable water is limited due to high demand and increased contamination from industrial and commercial sources. New chemical pollutants, which could be xenobiotic contaminants of aquatic ecosystems, are being produced more frequently for use by all aspects of society. Of particular concern are the emerging and trace contaminants, which are potentially toxic substances that are currently not routinely monitored in both wastewater treatment plants and the environment. These include the following examples: pesticides, pharmaceuticals, personal care products, endocrine disruptors, micro- and nano plastics, by-products from water disinfection, and others. Pollution stemming from anthropogenic sources involves complex mixture, and wastewater treatment plants cannot completely eradicate all incoming contaminants. Therefore, the development of add-on treatments that are low cost and sustainable to assure the release of safe effluent and maintain water quality is vital. To eliminate to the danger of using chemicals to treat chemicals, and producing unwanted by-products with toxicological repercussions, environmentally friendly remediation systems are needed.

Bioremediation utilizes the ecosystem services of native biota, including plants and microbes, to bioaccumulate and biotransform xenobiotics, thereby potentially eradicating hazardous chemicals. However, the advances toward the practical application of this green approach have become stagnant. With the potential of the technology demonstrated, further development of fundamental research and practical approaches are needed. The goal of this Research Topic is to compile a collection of the latest developments and advances in bioremediation of emerging and trace contaminants, to revive interest and advance this biotechnological approach to the decontamination of water polluted with anthropogenic contaminants.

This Research Topic aims to rekindle research interest in advancing the development of bioremediation technologies as add-on treatments for emerging and trace contaminants. Bioremediation agents would include using plants, fungi, algae, bacteria, and consortia of these organisms to remove anthropogenic xenobiotics with low removal rates during wastewater treatment. Demonstration of novel approaches and further development of existing bioremediation technologies in a laboratory setting will be considered, while practical applications at pilot and large-scale scale aimed at eradicating emerging and trace contaminant mixtures are encouraged. All article types are welcomed if they adhere to the scope of the section and journal.

Keywords: mycoremediation, phytoremediation, phycoremediation, wetland systems, hazardous chemicals, eutrophication, laboratory experiments, pilot scale, large-scale implementation, bioremediation

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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