Comparative assessment of three ligninolytic fungi for removal of phenolic endocrine disruptors from freshwaters and sediments.

Bisphenol A (BPA) and 4-n-nonylphenol (NP) are two endocrine disruptor compounds dangerous to animals, especially aquatics, and humans. They can be leached from urban and industrial wastes and contaminate the environment. White rot fungi produce ligninolytic enzymes capable of biodegrading aromatic contaminants, including some endocrine disruptors. This investigation has evaluated the potential of three fungal species, Trametes versicolor, Stereum hirsutum and Pleurotus ostreatus, to remove BPA at a concentration of 4.6 mg L(-1) from two freshwaters, a lake and a river, and both BPA and NP each at a concentration of 10 mg kg(-1) from the corresponding sediments. A comparative assessment of mycelial growth during biodecontamination showed that, in general, the maximum fungal hyphae elongation was observed with T. versicolor in freshwaters and with P. ostreatus in sediments. The fungi T. versicolor and P. ostreatus exhibited a similar capacity for removing BPA from the two freshwaters, whereas S. hirsutum was much more effective in the decontamination of lake water than river water. A significant disappearance of both BPA and NP was shown in the two sediments inoculated with each fungus, especially of BPA in the lake sediment and of NP in the river sediment. The most effective removal of the two contaminants from sediments occurred during the first seven days after fungal inoculation.