Biodegradation and Impact of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Environment: A Review

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are chemical substances that are produced from natural sources such as volcanic eruptions and from anthropogenic sources such as incomplete combustion of fuels such as coal, oil, gas and waste materials. They are mostly implicated among numerous toxic compounds in the ecological system. Exposure of such organic pollutants in an environment can endanger animals, plants, microbial, soil, and aquatic lives. Human beings are at a high risk of developing cancers due to pollutants exposure. The existence of such pollutants in the surroundings can endanger microbial life by affecting cell growth, shape and metabolic process, alters genetic composition and membranes of microbial cells. The major routes of microbial degradation of organic pollutants are via growth and co-metabolism. The processes enable microorganisms to metabolize toxic compounds in the cells milieu, so as to transform contaminants into harmless forms such as carbon dioxide and water. Bioremediation remains the safest and eco-friendly means of converting toxic environment to a harmless state. This review seeks to provide an overview of biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the adverse effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons compounds in the environment.