Environmental persistence, hazard, and mitigation challenges of nitroaromatic compounds

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international Vol. 26; no. 28; pp. 28650 - 28667
• Main Authors: Tiwari, Jyoti, Tarale, Prashant, Sivanesan, Saravanadevi, Bafana, Amit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01.10.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Benzene; Cyclic compounds; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Engineering research; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental engineering; environmental fate; Environmental Health; Environmental Pollutants; Environmental Pollution; Environmental science; Explosives; Fungi; Fungicides; Hazardous areas; Herbicides; humans; Hydrocarbons; nitro compounds; Nitrogen Compounds; Organic chemistry; Pesticides; Plant diseases; Pollutants; Pollution; Pollution sources; Research centers; Review Article; United States Environmental Protection Agency; Waste disposal; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Prevalence; Remediation; Health impacts; Toxicity; Nitroaromatic compounds
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06043-8

Nitroaromatic compounds (NACs) are extensively used in different industries and are synthesized in large quantity due to their heavy demand worldwide. The broad use of NACs poses a serious pollution threat. The treatment processes used for the removal of NACs are not effective and sustainable, leading to their release into the environment. The nitro group attached to benzene ring makes the compounds recalcitrant due to which they persist in the environment. Being hazardous to human as well as other living organisms, NACs are listed in the USEPA’s priority pollutant group. This review provides updated information on the sources of NACs, prevalence in different environmental matrices, and recent developments in methods of their detection, with emphasis on current trends as well as future prospects. The harmful effects of NACs due to exposure through different routes are also highlighted. Further, the technologies reported for the treatment of NACs, including physico-chemical and biological methods, and the challenges faced for their effective implementation are discussed. Thus, the review discusses relevant issues in detail making suitable recommendations, which can be helpful in guiding further research in this subject.