Mycoremediation of PAH-contaminated soil

Out of a number of white-rot fungal cultures, strains of Irpex lacteus and Pleurotus ostreatus were selected for degradation of 7 three- and four-ring unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in two contaminated industrial soils, Respective data for removal of PAH in the two industrial soils by L. lacteus were: fluorene (41 and 67 %), phenanthrene (20 and 56 %), anthracene (29 and 49 %), fluoranthene (29 and 57 %). pyrene (24 and 42 %), chrysene (16 and 32 %) and benzo[a]anthracene (13 and 20 %). In the same two industrial soils P. ostreatus degraded the PAH with respective removal figures of fluorene (26 and 35 %). phenanthrene (0 and 20 %), anthracene (19 and 53 %), fluoranthene (29 and 31 %), pyrene (22 and 42 %), chrysene (0 and 42 %) and benzo[a]anthracene (0 and 13 %). The degradation of PAH was determined against concentration of PAH in non-treated contaminated soils after 14 weeks of incubation. The fungal degradation of PAH in soil was studied simultaneously with ecotoxicity evaluation of fungal treated and non-treated contaminated soils. Compared to non-treated contaminated soil, fungus-treated soil samples indicated decrease in inhibition of bioluminescence in luminescent bacteria (Vibrio fischerii) and increase in Germinated mustard (Brassica alba) seeds.