Environmental contamination by heterocyclic Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and their microbial degradation.

Heterocyclic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been detected in all environmental matrices at few ppb to several ppm concentrations and they are characterized by high polarity. Some heterocyclic PAHs are mutagenic and carcinogenic to humans and various organisms. Despite being potent environmental pollutants, these compounds have received less attention. This paper focuses on the sources and occurrence of these compounds and their microbial degradation using diverse species of bacteria, fungi, and algae. Complete removal of 1.8 to 2614 mg/L of nitrogen heterocyclic PAH (PANH), 0.27 to 184 mg/L of sulfur heterocyclic PAH (PASH), and 0.6 to 120 mg/L of oxygen heterocyclic PAH (PAOH) compounds by various microbial species was observed between 3 h and 18 days, 8 h to 6 days, and 4 h to 250 h, respectively under aerobic condition. Strategies for enhancing the removal of heterocyclic PAHs from aquatic systems are also discussed along with the challenges.