Destination of pesticide residues on biobeds: State of the art and future perspectives in Latin America

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) Vol. 248; p. 126038
• Main Authors: Dias, Leticia de A., Gebler, Luciano, Niemeyer, Júlia C., Itako, Adriana T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2020
• Subjects: Argentina; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Bioreactors; Brazil; Chile; Costa Rica; Latin America; On-farm treatment; Organic pollutants; Pesticide Residues - analysis; Pesticides; Pesticides - analysis; Soil; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Water Pollution; Brazil; Argentina; Chile; Costa Rica; Latin America; Biodegradation; Organic pollutants; On-farm treatment; Pesticides
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.126038

Land-use intensification with a high demand for pesticides is a consequence of human population increase. Feasible alternatives for correct concentrated residues discharge are necessary to avoid soil and water resources contamination. Biobeds are in situ bioreactors for treating pesticide residues, used by several European and American countries due to its low cost and simple construction, whose efficiency has been scientifically proved for over 20 years. This review presents the state of the art of biobeds in Latin America (LA), identifying advances and future research needs. Factors affecting the efficiency of biobeds are discussed, like ideal temperature, moisture, and microbial communities, followed by methods for evaluating the bioreactor’s efficiency. It was necessary to adapt this technology to the climatic and economic conditions of Latin-American countries, due to its European origins. Guatemala is the LA country that uses biobeds as official technology. Brazil, Argentina, Costa Rica and Chile are examples of countries that are actively investigating new substrates and pursuing legal aspects for the establishment of the biobeds. Robust scientific evidences may enable farmers start using this technology, which is an environmentally safe system to protect water resources. [Display omitted] •Biobed is a new technology in LA which requires adaptation/evaluation studies.•This review brings the main results obtained in LA studies until June 2019.•Advances include the search for alternative biomixture components.•The role of bioaugmentation processes and abiotic factors are discussed.•The use of ecotoxicological monitoring and chemical evaluations are presented.