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The use of microorganisms as a solution for environmental sanitation in urban slums in poor and developing countries.

Estefan M. da Fonseca,Christine C. Gaylardeb,Bruno S. Pierria,Jéssica de F. Delgadoa,Leonardo S. De Limaa,Bismarck Alcantarac,Letícia F. Garciac,José A. S. Aranhad,Mariana M. M. Lopese,Ana L. Astie

Published 2025 in Ecological Risk and Security Research

ABSTRACT

Accelerated urbanization in developing countries has driven the expansion of informal settlements, often without access to essential infrastructure such as water supply, sewage treatment, and waste management. These deficiencies contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases and the degradation of urban ecosystems. Streams in these areas are frequently used as open sewers, intensifying environmental contamination and health risks. Addressing these challenges requires integrated public policies focused on land regularization, sanitation infrastructure, and environmental justice. In this context, microbial bioremediation emerges as a sustainable and low-cost alternative. The use of specific microorganisms capable of degrading organic and chemical pollutants offers several advantages: they can adapt to different environments, require minimal maintenance, and do not produce secondary pollution. These biological agents improve water quality, reduce pathogen loads, and support the ecological restoration of contaminated urban waterways. Their application in decentralized and community-level interventions makes them particularly suitable for areas with limited infrastructure. By combining conventional urban planning with microbial-based strategies, it is possible to promote healthier environments and enhance public health in vulnerable communities affected by unregulated urban growth. Within this context, the primary objective of this article was to collect data from a wide range of available studies on the subject to provide insights that could encourage the development of microbiological research to support public policies for environmental sanitation in slums and other communities where infrastructure installation is particularly challenging.

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