Polycyclic Aromatic Aydrocarbons (PAHs) Pollution Approaches in Aquatic Ecosystems: Perils and Remedies Using Green Technologies
Zeinab El-Bouhy, Rasha M. Reda, Fatma Mohamed, Mohamed Elashhab, Afaf N. Abdel Rahman
Abstract
One of the most persistent environmental pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), are pervasive throughout the world. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pose a serious health threat to a variety of life forms because of their mutagenic, teratogenic, immuno-toxicogenic, and/or carcinogenic properties. The majority of PAHs production comes from both natural and human sources, such as forest fires, volcanic emissions, coal, oil, and petroleum-based goods like gasoline. Because PAHs show very high persistence, aquatic and non-aquatic animal species can easily acquire their residues in the environment, either directly from the water or indirectly through their food. Because of this, the current review focuses on the main PAHs emission sources, transformations, occurrences in ecosystems, and harmful effects on aquatic animals, with an emphasis on fish. Also, eco-friendly biological treatment methods for PAHs remediation are thoroughly discussed. These methods include microbial remediation (bacterial-remediation, myco-remediation, and vermi-remediation) and Phyto-remediation techniques (active carbons, rhizo-remediation, and medicinal plants).