Research Progress on Microbial Degradation of Brominated Flame Retardant

Abstract:

Brominated flame retardants (BFRs) are widely used in plastics, textiles, and electronics for their excellent ability of preventing fires. However, BFRs cause adverse effects on human health and environment for their bioaccumulation, persistence and biotoxicant. Although it is predicted that microbial remediation will bring bright prospective for the purification of BFRs-contaminated environment, less research has been done about the microbial degradation of BFRs. In this paper, we reviewed the recent progresses on microbial degradation of BFRs, including anaerobic degradation, aerobic degradation and other kinds of microbial degradation. In addition, we discussed the problems and challenges in this filed, and the future exploitation of the anaerobic debromination.