Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread across the globe mainly due to long-term anthropogenic sources of pollution. The inherent properties of PAHs such as heterocyclic aromatic ring structures, hydrophobicity, and thermostability have made them recalcitrant and highly persistent in the environment. PAH pollutants have been determined to be highly toxic, mutagenic, carcinogenic, teratogenic, and immunotoxicogenic to various life forms. Therefore, this review discusses the primary sources of PAH emissions, exposure routes, and toxic effects on humans, in particular. This review briefly summarizes the physical and chemical PAH remediation approaches such as membrane filtration, soil washing, adsorption, electrokinetic, thermal, oxidation, and photocatalytic treatments. This review provides a detailed systematic compilation of the eco-friendly biological treatment solutions for remediation of PAHs such as microbial remediation approaches using bacteria, archaea, fungi, algae, and co-cultures. In situ and ex situ biological treatments such as land farming, biostimulation, bioaugmentation, phytoremediation, bioreactor, and vermiremediation approaches are discussed in detail, and a summary of the factors affecting and limiting PAH bioremediation is also discussed. An overview of emerging technologies employing multi-process combinatorial treatment approaches is given, and newer concepts on generation of value-added by-products during PAH remediation are highlighted in this review.

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Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons: Sources, Toxicity, and Remediation Approaches.

The potential impact on the biodegradation of organic pollutants from composting technology for soil remediation.

Biodegradation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons and the influence of environmental factors during the co-composting of sewage sludge and green forest waste.

The role of organic amendments to soil for crop protection: Induction of suppression of soilborne pathogens

Petroleum hydrocarbons contamination of soil, sediments and marine environment associated with the inadvertent discharges of petroleum–derived chemical wastes and petroleum hydrocarbons associated with spillage and other sources into the environment often pose harmful effects on human health and the natural environment, and have negative socio–economic impacts in the oil–producing host communities. In practice, plants and microbes have played a major role in microbial transformation and growth–linked mineralization of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soils and/or sediments over the past years. Bioremediation strategies has been recognized as an environmental friendly and cost–effective alternative in comparison with the traditional physico-chemical approaches for the restoration and reclamation of contaminated sites. The success of any plant–based remediation strategy depends on the interaction of plants with rhizospheric microbial populations in the surrounding soil medium and the organic contaminant. Effective understanding of the fate and behaviour of organic contaminants in the soil can help determine the persistence of the contaminant in the terrestrial environment, promote the success of any bioremediation approach and help develop a high–level of risks mitigation strategies. In this review paper, we provide a clear insight into the role of plants and microbes in the microbial degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons in contaminated soil that have emerged from the growing body of bioremediation research and its applications in practice. In addition, plant–microbe interactions have been discussed with respect to biodegradation of petroleum hydrocarbons and these could provide a better understanding of some important factors necessary for development of in situ bioremediation strategies for risks mitigation in petroleum hydrocarbon–contaminated soil.

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Role of Plants and Microbes in Bioremediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbons Contaminated Soils

Anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene degradation in soil is favoured by compost amendment: Perspectives for a bioremediation approach.

Role of different microorganisms in remediating PAH-contaminated soils treated with compost or fungi.

Long-term compost amendment of a Mediterranean horticultural soil. Part I: Relationships among biological and chemical soil quality and the yield of two crops [Conference poster].

Soil microbial community during PAH degradation

Long-term compost amendment of a Mediterranean horticultural soil. Part I: Relationships among biological and chemical soil quality and the yield of two crops

Raffaella Morelli

Papers

Anthracene and benzo(a)pyrene degradation in soil is favoured by compost amendment: Perspectives for a bioremediation approach.

Role of different microorganisms in remediating PAH-contaminated soils treated with compost or fungi.

Long-term compost amendment of a Mediterranean horticultural soil. Part I: Relationships among biological and chemical soil quality and the yield of two crops [Conference poster].

Soil microbial community during PAH degradation

Long-term compost amendment of a Mediterranean horticultural soil. Part I: Relationships among biological and chemical soil quality and the yield of two crops