Sami_2025_Ecotoxicol.Environ.Saf_308_119484

Chlorpyrifos is a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide which has raised environmental concerns due to its persistence, toxicity and global distribution. This review aims to elucidate the environmental nature of chlorpyrifos by discussing its environmental fate, toxicity, remediation options, and regulatory advancements from published articles within 1991-2025. Ecologically, chlorpyrifos is highly adsorptive to soil withmoderate persistence, depending on temperature, microbial action, and photolytic degradation. Its major breakdown product 3,5,6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) is more water solublethan the parent compound and prone to groundwater contamination. Being an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor,it initiates neurological damage in both humans and animals. At acute exposures, it causes cholinergic symptoms andat low levels, it causes cognitive deficits, developmental delays, and behaviour problems over sustained periods of time. To alleviate the environmental effects, remediation strategies namely microbial bioremediation of chlorpyrifos using bacteria has been most promising globally. Controlled-release technology, biopesticides and advancedoxidation processes are also greatly considered for remediation in soil and water. Regulatory actions have escalated withmounting scientific evidence. This insecticide has been banned or restricted in many countries, including the United States and the European Union. Nevertheless, it is still used in a number of low- and middle-income countries, raising global health and environmentalequity issues. In contrast to existing review, this article highlights the importance of more effective remediation strategies, rigorous international regulations and the implementation of safer alternatives and integrated pest management (IPM)approaches to mitigate both ecological and human health risks.