FUNGAL METABOLISM AND DETOXIFICATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS - A REVIEW

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are highly hazardous pollutants found in soil, sediments and air, and which are produced in the process of organic matter combustion. Some of them are acutely toxic, mutagenic or carcinogenic. The group of fungi which includes Aspergillus ochraceus, Cunninghamella elegans, Cunninghamella echinulata, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Bjerkandera sp., Trametes versicolor and the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have the ability to oxidize or transform polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and render them non-toxic.