Fungal Biodegradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs)

Abstract

For many years, PAHs have been the subject of intense controversy throughout the world, due to their high toxicity and their presence in almost all environmental media. Their hazardous nature has given rise to a number of legal requirements throughout the world aimed at effectively reducing their content in foodstuffs and certain everyday consumer products. However, technologies for remediating PAH-contaminated soils use chemical and mechanical approaches that are extremely costly and not very environmentally friendly. That's why research is currently focusing on biological approaches that can provide effective, low-cost treatment for PAH-contaminated soils, and avoid environmental repercussions as far as possible. The aim of this paper is to shed light on a biological approach to the treatment of PAHs that is still in its infancy, but which is already showing great promise: biodegradation by fungi, which differ from other organisms in that they secrete enzymes that give them the ability to feed in environments inaccessible to other kingdoms, and to absorb toxic PAH chemicals from the soil and transform them into less harmful compounds.