Fate of triclosan in soil and sediment matrix: A comprehensive review and half-life assessment in sediment

Abstract

Triclosan (TCS) is a widely utilized antimicrobial agent present in personal care products, household items, and medical applications. Due to its extensive use and the inefficiency of conventional wastewater treatment processes in completely removing it, TCS is frequently detected in wastewater effluents and sludge. Its subsequent accumulation in soil raises significant concerns regarding its persistence and potential environmental hazards. Beyond affecting soil microbial communities, TCS can also bioaccumulate in organisms, leading to toxic effects, thereby necessitating studies on its stability and degradation dynamics in various environmental matrices. In this study, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to examine the sources, occurrence, and environmental fate of TCS in soil systems. Additionally, an experimental study was performed under controlled aerobic laboratory conditions to determine the half-life of TCS in a sediment-water system. The degradation kinetics were assessed using a first-order kinetic model, revealing a half-life of 21.35 days, indicating the moderate persistence of TCS in soil. These findings highlight the potential risks associated with long-term contamination and underscore the need for improved remediation strategies. Advanced bioremediation techniques, such as bioaugmentation and the use of synthetic microbial consortia, are recommended to enhance TCS degradation efficiency and mitigate its environmental impact.