Rosa Acevedo-BarriosJesus Olivero-VerbelChapter

First Online: 07 October 2021

Part of the Reviews of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology book series Abstract

Perchlorate is a persistent pollutant, generated via natural and anthropogenic processes, that possesses a high potential for endocrine disruption in humans and biota. It inhibits iodine fixation, a major reason for eliminating this pollutant from ecosystems. Remediation of perchlorate can be achieved with various physicochemical treatments, especially at low concentrations. However, microbiological approaches using microorganisms, such as those from the genera Dechloromonas, Serratia, Propionivibrio, Wolinella, and Azospirillum, are promising when perchlorate pollution is extensive. Perchlorate-reducing bacteria, isolated from harsh environments, for example saline soils, mine sediments, thermal waters, wastewater treatment plants, underground gas storage facilities, and remote areas, including the Antarctica, can provide removal yields from 20 to 100%. Perchlorate reduction, carried out by a series of enzymes, such as perchlorate reductase and superoxide chlorite, depends on pH, temperature, salt concentration, metabolic inhibitors, nutritional conditions, time of contact, and cellular concentration. Microbial degradation is cost-effective, simple to implement, and environmentally friendly, rendering it a viable method for alleviating perchlorate pollution in the environment.

KeywordsBacteria Biological treatment Environmental pollutant Perchlorate-reducing Toxicology 

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NotesAcknowledgements

The authors thank the Research Department at the Technological University of Bolivar, and the Plan to Support Research Groups and Doctoral Programs at the University of Cartagena.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

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