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Fungal Bioremediation of Microplastics
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This review examines how fungi can be used for bioremediation of plastic pollution, covering the enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in fungal plastic degradation. Fungal approaches complement bacterial strategies and may offer unique capabilities for breaking down certain types of plastics in contaminated environments.
Plastic pollution is an issue of global concern that requires urgent attention and action. Strategies to reduce further release of plastics into the environment are being generated and endorsed by policy makers. Researchers are actively trying to identify novel methods to treat plastic waste in the environment through either removal or degradation approaches. Bioremediation (using bacteria, algae, and fungi) has been explored as an environmentally friendly method of degrading plastics. Early research reports have presented promising results that warrant further exploration of these approaches. Fungi have received the least attention of the microbes investigated for bioremediation. This chapter aims to present a clear rationale that fungi present as strong candidates for the bioremediation of plastics with a focus on microplastics. A short overview of the key characteristics of fungi is detailed in order to fully assess the multiple ways in which they can be employed for bioremediation. A summary of preliminary studies using fungi to degrade plastic is provided. The vast biochemical potential of fungi are underutilized and underexplored, and further research may identify a cost-effective, eco-friendly route to removing plastics (in particular microplastics) from the environment.
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