Islam_2026_Environ.Chem.Lett_24_101

Halogenated organic compounds are widely occurring persistent pollutants originating from herbicides, insecticides, and other industrial products, calling for advanced methods of environmental remediation. Here, we review the microbial processes allowing to remove the halogen atoms, namely, fluorine, bromine, and chlorine, from the pollutants. We discuss the fate of halogenated organic compounds, the microbial halogen cycle, bacterial dehalogenases, and the mechanisms of dehalogenation, metagenomics, and genetic modifications. Bacterial dehalogenases include hydrolytic, reductive, oxidative, and glutathione-dependent dehalogenases. Dehalogenation mechanisms comprise hydrolytic, reductive, and oxygenolytic dehalogenation.