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Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Bioremediation of Natural and Synthetic Estrogens as Emerging Water Contaminants Using Bacteria, Fungi, and Algae

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Abstract

The occurrence of newly emerging contaminants such as estrogens in water environment has the potential negative effects to human health as well as the surrounding wildlife. This demands efficient approaches for their removals from the water environment. Among all feasible solutions, biodegradation shows promising prospects to remediate estrogens from the environment since it is relatively economical and environmentally friendly compared to chemical and physical treatment approaches. To offer coverage on the present advances of this technology, this paper critically reviews the opportunities and challenges for bioremediation of estrogens using bacteria, fungi, and algae. In general, the capabilities to remove estrogens from water environments by bacteria, fungi, and algae have been highlighted and discussed. Additionally, several advantages and disadvantages are recognized before they are implemented widely in full-scale treatments. Moreover, a comprehensive discussion on the transformation of estrogens using these organisms is also presented, showing vividly that estrogens can be transformed into less toxic chemicals. The review ends by offering several prospective areas for expansion in the future specifically in focusing on the evaluation of other available microorganisms that can survive under numerous hostile environmental conditions, since, in the real application, complex mixtures and extreme environmental conditions are commonly observed particularly in the wastewater treatment systems.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya for facilitating the present work. A great collaborative effort from the Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, Curtin University Malaysia, and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak in realizing the current review is highly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Faculty of Science and Data Analytics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, 60111, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

    Anisa Ratnasari

  2. Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, 60237, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

    Achmad Syafiuddin

  3. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, 94300, Kota Samarahan, , Sarawak, Malaysia

    Ahmad Beng Hong Kueh

  4. Department of Statistics, Faculty of Science and Data Analytics, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember, 60111, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia

    Suhartono Suhartono

  5. Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University, 98009, Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia

    Tony Hadibarata

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  1. Anisa Ratnasari
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Correspondence to Achmad Syafiuddin.

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Ratnasari, A., Syafiuddin, A., Kueh, A.B.H. et al. Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainable Bioremediation of Natural and Synthetic Estrogens as Emerging Water Contaminants Using Bacteria, Fungi, and Algae. Water Air Soil Pollut 232, 242 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11270-021-05183-3

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