A Review on Bacterial Degradation of Benzo[a]pyrene and Its Impact on Environmental Health

Benzo[a]pyrene is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) having a high molecular weight. Benzo[a]pyrene and other PAHs are induces severe acute or chronic human health hazards and are extremely carcinogenic, mutagenic, immunotoxic, and teratogenic. Microorganisms play a crucial part in the degradation of benzo[a]pyrene from polluted environments. Such micro-organisms synthesize monooxygenase and di-oxygenase enzymes that proceed with the aerobic or anaerobic catabolic degradations of benzo[a]pyrene. Bioaugmentation, biomineralization, and biostimulation methods can be used for the decontamination of benzo[a]pyrene from hydrocarbon contaminated sites. In this review paper, we thoroughly explained the impacts of benzo[a]pyrene pollution on human health and the environment. Further, this study also described various pathways regarding the bio-degradation of benzo[a]pyrene and also an updated overview of future prospects of benzo[a]pyrene biodegradation