Pesticide-Derived Aromatic Amines and Their Biotransformation

Abstract

Aromatic amines (AA) are an important and diversified class of pollutants, including industrial products, drugs, combustion products, pesticides or dyes. Some AA, in particular pesticide-derived AA, are persistent in soils and ground waters and exhibit potential toxicity. These compounds may accumulate in the environment, where they have noxious effects. This is especially true for 3,4 dichloroaniline (3,4-DCA), a byproduct of aniline-derived herbicides such as diuron. In treated soil, diuron is transformed into 3,4-DCA and then acetylated by soil bacteria and fungi into the less toxic acetyl-DCA. Microorganisms are thus good candidates to be used for decontamination of AA-polluted soils, a process known as bioremediation. Recent data indicate that filamentous fungi represent promising candidates for bioremediation of AAcontaminated soils. However, fundamental research is still needed to better understand the potential of fungi in metabolizing these pollutants.