Microbial degradation of halogenated aromatics

Halogenated aromatic compounds are being extensively used in agriculture as herbicides and pesticides, and also used in the manufacturing industries as solvents and heat insulators. Chlorinated aromatics are of a major public concern about their possible hazardous effects on humans and the general life on this planet. The chlorinated compounds are often recalcitrant or insoluble in aqueous systems, they escape degradation. Thus, the microbial activity is chiefly responsible for the mineralization of halogenated compounds, which enter into a variety of natural habitats. The toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects of various chlorinated compounds make studies of these compounds at various levels, extremely important. As excellent recent reviews on the microbial degradation of halogenated aromatics are available, a brief description of the degradation of some important chloroaromatics, with available enzymological studies is presented.