Applications of bioanalytical techniques in evaluating advanced oxidation processes in pesticide degradation

We present an overview of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for removing different pesticides, with emphasis on the toxicity of degradation products and the bioanalytical techniques used to assess the toxicity. Inhibition of bioluminescence from Vibrio fischeri appears to be the most versatile indicator of toxic compounds generated in degradation processes for pesticides. However, detection of neurotoxic compounds, which can be generated in AOPs of some organophosphorous pesticides, requires acetylcholinesterase (AChE) bioassays that rely on inhibiting AChE activity. The novel AChE-flow-injection analysis (FIA)-thermal lens spectrometric (TLS) bioassay was recently applied with success for toxicity testing in degradation of organophosphates by AOPs.