This document discusses chlorpyrifos degradation trends, challenges, and opportunities for microbiologists. It provides an overview of chlorpyrifos including its introduction in 1965 as an organophosphate pesticide, current usage levels, and major health effects. Methods of degrading chlorpyrifos that are discussed include photolysis, chemical methods, and bioremediation using bacteria, fungi, and algal biomass. Opportunities in bioremediation screening and genetic modification are presented alongside challenges in isolation of degrading microbes and commercialization of biopesticides. The document concludes that replacement of toxic organophosphate pesticides is needed and bioremediation provides opportunities.

1. CSIR - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur (H.P.)
India
(Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)
Post Box No. – 06
Palampur-176061 (H.P.) India
Website: http://www.ihbt.res.in
E-mail: director@ihbt.res.in
Ph: +91-1894-230411
Fax: +91-1894-230433 1
Chlorpyrifos degradation: Current
trends, challenges and opportunities
for microbiologist
Presented by: Subhash Kumar
PhD: 1st
Year

2. CSIR - IHBT
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Overview
Introduction
 Types of Pesticides
Chemical pesticides
Currents Trends of Organopesticides
 Chlorpyrifos
Major health effects of
Organophosphate pesticides
Methods of degradation of
Chlorpyrifos
Bioremediation
Needs, opportunities and alternatives
Challenges

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Substances intended for preventing, destroying, repelling, or mitigating
any insects, rodents, nematodes, fungi, or weeds, or any other forms.
--Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (US EPA, 1947).
What are Pesticides?
Grouped by Types of Pests They
Kill

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Chemical pesticides
Organochlorine
DDT, chlordane, toxaphene
NCl
Cl Cl
O
P
O
O
S
C2H5
CH3
Chlorpyrifos
Organophosphate :
chlorpyrifos, parathion,
malathion, methyl parathion
etc
DDT
Pyrethroid :
Allethrin, Bifenthrin,
Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin,
Cyphenothrin Allethrin
Sulfonylurea
herbicides:
amidosulfuron,
azimsulfuron,
bensulfuron-methyl, etc
Amidosulfuron
Source: Sigma Aldrich

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Currents Trends of
Organophosphate pesticide
In India
55,540 tons in 2010-11
57,353 tons in 2014-15
Over this time period, the imports of pesticides also
increased from 53,996 tons to 77,376 tons.
Deshpande T. March 2017 State of Agriculture in India
36% of world wide Organophosphate is used
Sukirtha, T. and M. Usharani (2013). Journal of
Bioremediation & Biodegradation.

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•Used to kill a number of pests including insects and
worms.
•It was introduced in 1965 by Dow Chemical Company.
•It is used on crops, animals, and buildings.
• Main mechanism of its toxicity is antiacetylcholinesterase
activity. (Fukuto, T. R.1990. Environmental health perspectives )
•Toxicity results in more than 10,000 human deaths a year.
(Rathod A.L., Garg R.K. 2017. Journal of Forensic and Legal
Medicine)
Chlorpyrifos NCl
Cl Cl
O
P
O
O
S
C2H5
CH3

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•Antiacetylcholinesterase enzyme activity.
•Photosynthetic inhibition - (hills reaction ).
•Biosynthetic inhibition – (metabolism of carotene and fatty acid in the
animal or plant body).
•Multiple inhibition- phosphorylation , protein , lipid inhibition .
•Respiratory inhibition – (mitochondrial ATPase inhibition ).
•Cancers.
Major health effects of organophosphate
pesticides
• EDC’s- (endocrine disrupting chemicals).
https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/endocrine/index.cfm

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Effect of organophosphate pesticide on
acetyl- cholinesterase mechanism:
Rafael et al. (2012) Pesticides, Advances in Chemical and Botanical Pesticides

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Methods of degradation of
chlorpyrifos
1. Photolysis
2. Chemical methods
3. Bioremediation

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BioremediationBioremediation
Biodegradation Biotransformation Biosorption Biosorption
+
Biodegradatio
n
Combination of anyCombination of any
Mechanism: Enzymatic activityMechanism: Enzymatic activity
Mechanism:
Chemisorption
Physisorption
Mechanism:
Chemisorption
Physisorption
•Bacterial
•Algal
•Fungal BiomassBacteria
Fungi

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Needs
Efficient bioremediation (Biosorption followed by
biodegradation from Chlorpyrifos polluted soil and water).
Complete degradation of Chlorpyrifos
Opportunities:
Screening of efficient microorganism
GMO’s
Alternatives
Biopesticide (bialaphos,
spinosyns,blasticidin, abamectins,
validamycin)
Neem Insecticide - Ozoneem Trishul

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Challenges
 To isolate and screen highly potential microbes having
enzymatic system to completely degrade the toxic pesticides
from contaminated environment.
 Genetically modified microorganism with multiple enzymes
system to degrade no. of pesticides simultaneously.
 Biopesticides are still only 3% of the global annual market for
pesticides. Seiber J.N. et al., (2014). Journal of agriculture and food
chemistry.
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biopest oppertunities.pdf

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Conclusions
• Organophosphate pesticides are highly toxic and need to be
completely removed from the environment.
• Replacement of toxic Organophosphate pesticides by non
toxic biopesticides.
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14. CSIR - IHBT

15. CSIR - Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur (H.P.)
India
(Council of Scientific & Industrial Research)
Post Box No. – 06
Palampur-176061 (H.P.) India
Website: http://www.ihbt.res.in
E-mail: director@ihbt.res.in
Ph: +91-1894-230411
Fax: +91-1894-230433
Thank You .....!
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