Microbial communities to mitigate contamination of PAHs in soil--possibilities and challenges: a review

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2011-01, Vol.18 (1), p.12-30
• Main Authors: Fernández-Luqueño, F, Valenzuela-Encinas, C, Marsch, R, Martínez-Suárez, C, Vázquez-Núñez, E, Dendooven, L
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Aquatic Pollution; Archaea - metabolism; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Autochthonous microorganism; Bacteria - metabolism; Bioaugmentation; Bioavailability; Biodegradation; Biodegradation, Environmental; Bioremediation; Biostimulation; Biosurfactants; Biotechnology; Catalysis; Communities; Contaminants; Contamination; Dissipation; Earth and Environmental Science; Economics; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental cleanup; Environmental Health; Environmental risk; Eukaryota - genetics; Eukaryota - metabolism; GEM; Genetic Engineering; Genetically engineered microorganisms; Genome, Archaeal; Genome, Bacterial; Genomics; Genomics - methods; Laboratories; Microbial activity; Microbial contamination; Microbial genomics; Microbiomes; Microorganisms; Mineralization; Organic contaminants; PAHs; Pollutants; Polyallylamine hydrochloride; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - chemistry; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Restoration; Review Article; Reviews; Soil (material); Soil contamination; Soil Microbiology; Soil microorganisms; Soil Pollutants - chemistry; Soil Pollutants - metabolism; Soil pollution; Soil remediation; Studies; Surface-Active Agents - chemistry; Surface-Active Agents - metabolism; Surfactants; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-010-0371-6

Background, aim, and scope Although highly diverse and specialized prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities in soil degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), most of these are removed slowly. This review will discuss the biotechnological possibilities to increase the microbial dissipation of PAHs from soil as well as the main biological and biotechnological challenges. Discussion and conclusions Microorganism provides effective and economically feasible solutions for soil cleanup and restoration. However, when the PAHs contamination is greater than the microbial ability to dissipate them, then applying genetically modified microorganisms might help to remove the contaminant. Nevertheless, it is necessary to have a more holistic review of the different individual reactions that are simultaneously taking place in a microbial cell and of the interactions microorganism-microorganism, microorganism-plant, microorganism-soil, and microorganisms-PAHs. Perspectives Elucidating the function of genes from the PAHs-polluted soil and the study in pure cultures of isolated PAHs-degrading organisms as well as the generation of microorganisms in the laboratory that will accelerate the dissipation of PAHs and their safe application in situ have not been studied extensively. There is a latent environmental risk when genetically engineered microorganisms are used to remediate PAHs-contaminated soil.