Bioremediation of Agricultural Soils Polluted with Pesticides: a review

Bioengineering 
2021
, 
8
, x FOR PEER REVIEW 
8 of 29 
Tefluthrin Pyrethroid 
Interruption of functioning of the nervous system, inter-
fering with sodium channels. 
Aldicarb Carbamate 
Inhibition of cholinesterase prevents the breakdown of 
acetylcholine in the synapse. It leads to respiratory fail-
ure. 
λ
-cyhalothrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with nerve signaling by inhibition of the 
membrane sodium channel systems. 
Permethrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with sodium channels disrupts the function 
of neurons and causes muscles to spasm, culminating in 
paralysis and death. 
Terbufos Organophosphate 
Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase by phosphorylation 
of the hydroxyl group of serine present at the active site 
of the enzyme. 
Chlorpyrifos Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Methyl-parathion Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Dimethoate Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Carbofuran Carbamate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
2.2.2. Herbicides 
Herbicides are used to control and remove undesirable plants and weeds. These com-
pounds are mainly applied in agricultural soils, before or during farming to maximize 
crop productivity. Herbicides are also used in forest management and in suburban and 
urban areas. 
Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase by
phosphorylation of the hydroxyl group
of serine present at the active site of
the enzyme.
Chlorpyrifos
Organophosphate
Bioengineering 
2021
, 
8
, x FOR PEER REVIEW 
8 of 29 
Tefluthrin Pyrethroid 
Interruption of functioning of the nervous system, inter-
fering with sodium channels. 
Aldicarb Carbamate 
Inhibition of cholinesterase prevents the breakdown of 
acetylcholine in the synapse. It leads to respiratory fail-
ure. 
λ
-cyhalothrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with nerve signaling by inhibition of the 
membrane sodium channel systems. 
Permethrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with sodium channels disrupts the function 
of neurons and causes muscles to spasm, culminating in 
paralysis and death. 
Terbufos Organophosphate 
Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase by phosphorylation 
of the hydroxyl group of serine present at the active site 
of the enzyme. 
Chlorpyrifos Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Methyl-parathion Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Dimethoate Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Carbofuran Carbamate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
2.2.2. Herbicides 
Herbicides are used to control and remove undesirable plants and weeds. These com-
pounds are mainly applied in agricultural soils, before or during farming to maximize 
crop productivity. Herbicides are also used in forest management and in suburban and 
urban areas. 
Disruption of nervous systems by
inactivation of acetylcholinesterase.
Methyl-parathion
Organophosphate
Bioengineering 
2021
, 
8
, x FOR PEER REVIEW 
8 of 29 
Tefluthrin Pyrethroid 
Interruption of functioning of the nervous system, inter-
fering with sodium channels. 
Aldicarb Carbamate 
Inhibition of cholinesterase prevents the breakdown of 
acetylcholine in the synapse. It leads to respiratory fail-
ure. 
λ
-cyhalothrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with nerve signaling by inhibition of the 
membrane sodium channel systems. 
Permethrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with sodium channels disrupts the function 
of neurons and causes muscles to spasm, culminating in 
paralysis and death. 
Terbufos Organophosphate 
Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase by phosphorylation 
of the hydroxyl group of serine present at the active site 
of the enzyme. 
Chlorpyrifos Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Methyl-parathion Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Dimethoate Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Carbofuran Carbamate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
2.2.2. Herbicides 
Herbicides are used to control and remove undesirable plants and weeds. These com-
pounds are mainly applied in agricultural soils, before or during farming to maximize 
crop productivity. Herbicides are also used in forest management and in suburban and 
urban areas. 
Disruption of nervous systems by
inactivation of acetylcholinesterase.
Dimethoate
Organophosphate
Bioengineering 
2021
, 
8
, x FOR PEER REVIEW 
8 of 29 
Tefluthrin Pyrethroid 
Interruption of functioning of the nervous system, inter-
fering with sodium channels. 
Aldicarb Carbamate 
Inhibition of cholinesterase prevents the breakdown of 
acetylcholine in the synapse. It leads to respiratory fail-
ure. 
λ
-cyhalothrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with nerve signaling by inhibition of the 
membrane sodium channel systems. 
Permethrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with sodium channels disrupts the function 
of neurons and causes muscles to spasm, culminating in 
paralysis and death. 
Terbufos Organophosphate 
Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase by phosphorylation 
of the hydroxyl group of serine present at the active site 
of the enzyme. 
Chlorpyrifos Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Methyl-parathion Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Dimethoate Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Carbofuran Carbamate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
2.2.2. Herbicides 
Herbicides are used to control and remove undesirable plants and weeds. These com-
pounds are mainly applied in agricultural soils, before or during farming to maximize 
crop productivity. Herbicides are also used in forest management and in suburban and 
urban areas. 
Disruption of nervous systems by
inactivation of acetylcholinesterase.
Carbofuran
Carbamate
Bioengineering 
2021
, 
8
, x FOR PEER REVIEW 
8 of 29 
Tefluthrin Pyrethroid 
Interruption of functioning of the nervous system, inter-
fering with sodium channels. 
Aldicarb Carbamate 
Inhibition of cholinesterase prevents the breakdown of 
acetylcholine in the synapse. It leads to respiratory fail-
ure. 
λ
-cyhalothrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with nerve signaling by inhibition of the 
membrane sodium channel systems. 
Permethrin Pyrethroid 
Interference with sodium channels disrupts the function 
of neurons and causes muscles to spasm, culminating in 
paralysis and death. 
Terbufos Organophosphate 
Inactivation of acetylcholinesterase by phosphorylation 
of the hydroxyl group of serine present at the active site 
of the enzyme. 
Chlorpyrifos Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Methyl-parathion Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Dimethoate Organophosphate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
Carbofuran Carbamate 
Disruption of nervous systems by inactivation of acetyl-
cholinesterase. 
2.2.2. Herbicides 
Herbicides are used to control and remove undesirable plants and weeds. These com-
pounds are mainly applied in agricultural soils, before or during farming to maximize 
crop productivity. Herbicides are also used in forest management and in suburban and 
urban areas. 
Disruption of nervous systems by
inactivation of acetylcholinesterase.
2.2.2. Herbicides
Herbicides are used to control and remove undesirable plants and weeds. These
compounds are mainly applied in agricultural soils, before or during farming to maximize
crop productivity. Herbicides are also used in forest management and in suburban and
urban areas.
The modes of action depend on the chemical composition, and usually, they involve
a plant enzyme or a biological system. In this way, the regular plant growth and devel-
opments are injured or disrupted, causing eventual plant death [
51
]. In Table
4
, different
herbicides used in agriculture soil are reported.

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Bioengineering