A review on enzymatic colorimetric assays for organophosphate and carbamate pesticides detection in water environments

To monitor pesticides, which have grown to be a significant environmental and public health concern, sensitive, selective, and economical analytical tools must be developed. With advantages including high sensitivity, quick processing, and the potential for on-site monitoring, enzymatic colourimetric assays have surfaced as a potential substitute for conventional pesticide detection, particularly for organophosphate (OPPs) and carbamate pesticide detection. The toxicological effects of pesticides on humans and the environment are examined first in this review, followed by examining the concepts and mechanisms behind enzyme activity and colourimetric methods. Besides, single and double-enzyme-mediated colourimetric techniques are also studied to detect OPPs and carbamate pesticides. Furthermore, colourimetric smartphone platforms and paper-based devices have both garnered a lot of attention. These advanced approaches offer many pesticide detection options, from high-sensitivity lab-based procedures to on-site and in-field technologies. The fourth section of this review employs newly published studies to explore the applicability of these approaches for onsite OPPs and carbamate pesticide detection. Lastly, the challenges associated with enzymatic colourimetric assays, such as matrix effects and enzyme stability, and prospects for current and future research are discussed.