ABSTRACT
Hypersaline environments are often contaminated with high levels of recalcitrant pollutants due to various anthropogenic activities. The microorganisms can be used to degrade toxic organic pollutants to harmless products such as carbon dioxide through environmentally safe and cost-effective processes called bioremediation. The use of microorganisms for treating contaminated sites with moderate or high salinity is limited because of the lethal effects of salt on microbial life. However, halophiles are known to inhabit such environments. These microorganisms are now increasingly being investigated for their capacity to degrade various aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons and to transform heavy metal pollutants in varying salinities. This chapter focuses on various pollutants in the hypersaline environment and our growing understanding of the role of halophilic enzymes responsible for bioremediation in moderate to high salinity conditions.
