The bioremediation of herbicides and pesticides is of practical use, as it offers a less expensive and more environmentally friendly way of cleaning up potential problems associated with the toxins. The process focuses on detoxification rather than waste translocation [Dzantor], thereby reducing the cost and complications associated with the possible alternatives, such as offsite movement of the chemicals, human exposure, and expensive disposal of contaminated soil as hazardous waste [Moorman].
When pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides are applied correctly they are usually designed to be biodegradable so that they do not accumulate in the food chain. However, when these chemicals are introduced to the environment in large quantities from manufacturing, storage or spills they do present a contamination problem. Furthermore some nonchlorinated pesticides and herbicides may contaminate the water supply and pose a potential health hazard. Contamination can also result from heavy rain fall in the spring that washes away pesticide and herbicide residue from newly treated fields into streams. Bioremediation strategies can be employed to mineralize these compounds at contaminated sites.
A contamination in drinking water can cause serious consequences, even to those who do not immediately drink that particular water. The problem can quickly jump from phytoplankton feeding on the contaminated water to humans, in just a few short steps (phytoplankton to clams to fish to humans). Thus, the managing of storage and spills of toxins such as pesticides and herbicides is critical to several different species.
