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Peer-reviewedCC BYFrontiers in Environmental Science

From ‘yuck’ to ‘ahhh’: a focused review on the bacteriophage-based strategy for malodour mitigation to improve the aspirational quotient of toilets

  • Niti Sarat1
  • Amrita Salim2
  • Praveena P. R.1
  • Sindhu Shetty K.1
  • Abirami A1
  • Anusree R. Suresh1
  • Lekshmi Greeshma Ratheesh1
  • Subarna Mondal1
  • Adityadev P. B1
  • Sanjay Pal1
  • Ajith Madhavan1
  • Bipin G. Nair1
  1. 1School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, Kerala, India
  2. 2Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
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Abstract

Most of the user-interface of toilets is associated with in-situ, decentralised wastewater treatment systems. Specifically, on-site sanitation systems (OSS) and decentralised wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) are mainly used to treat toilet blackwater (faeces, urine, and flush water). Though ideal, malodour generated within these systems can hinder their adoption, especially where sanitation infrastructure is limited. Perceived desirability and social acceptability of toilets are negatively influenced by malodour and is a major contributor to its non-use and disuse. Obnoxious odours emanate largely from bacterial activity under anaerobic conditions, through the production of volatile organic sulphur compounds, nitrogenous compounds, and volatile fatty acids. Conventional odour-abatement strategies are plagued by substantial operational inputs and generation of secondary waste streams. Against this backdrop, bacteriophages are being investigated as a precision biological option, due to their host-specificity, and ability to self-amplify. This review examines bacteriophage-based strategies alongside established approaches for managing odour-causing microorganisms, with emphasis on emission points, biochemical processes, toxicity, translational bottlenecks, and research priorities.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{sarat2026from,
  title = {{From ‘yuck’ to ‘ahhh’: a focused review on the bacteriophage-based strategy for malodour mitigation to improve the aspirational quotient of toilets}},
  author = {Niti Sarat and Amrita Salim and Praveena P. R. and Sindhu Shetty K. and Abirami A and Anusree R. Suresh and Lekshmi Greeshma Ratheesh and Subarna Mondal and Adityadev P. B and Sanjay Pal and Ajith Madhavan and Bipin G. Nair},
  journal = {Frontiers in Environmental Science},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.3389/fenvs.2026.1890980},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2026.1890980},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - From ‘yuck’ to ‘ahhh’: a focused review on the bacteriophage-based strategy for malodour mitigation to improve the aspirational quotient of toilets
AU  - Niti Sarat
AU  - Amrita Salim
AU  - Praveena P. R.
AU  - Sindhu Shetty K.
AU  - Abirami A
AU  - Anusree R. Suresh
AU  - Lekshmi Greeshma Ratheesh
AU  - Subarna Mondal
AU  - Adityadev P. B
AU  - Sanjay Pal
AU  - Ajith Madhavan
AU  - Bipin G. Nair
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/05
JO  - Frontiers in Environmental Science
DO  - 10.3389/fenvs.2026.1890980
UR  - https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2026.1890980
AB  - Most of the user-interface of toilets is associated with in-situ, decentralised wastewater treatment systems. Specifically, on-site sanitation systems (OSS) and decentralised wastewater treatment systems (DEWATS) are mainly used to treat toilet blackwater (faeces, urine, and flush water). Though ideal, malodour generated within these systems can hinder their adoption, especially where sanitation infrastructure is limited. Perceived desirability and social acceptability of toilets are negatively influenced by malodour and is a major contributor to its non-use and disuse. Obnoxious odours emanate largely from bacterial activity under anaerobic conditions, through the production of volatile organic sulphur compounds, nitrogenous compounds, and volatile fatty acids. Conventional odour-abatement strategies are plagued by substantial operational inputs and generation of secondary waste streams. Against this backdrop, bacteriophages are being investigated as a precision biological option, due to their host-specificity, and ability to self-amplify. This review examines bacteriophage-based strategies alongside established approaches for managing odour-causing microorganisms, with emphasis on emission points, biochemical processes, toxicity, translational bottlenecks, and research priorities.
SN  - 2296-665X
ER  -