Fungi for the Future: Mycoremediation as a Natural Blueprint for Sustainable Environmental Restoration.

Xiaorong Liu ¹*

This study highlights fungi-based mycoremediation as a sustainable, cost-effective, and versatile solution for detoxifying polluted environments globally.

Abstract

Environmental pollution from heavy metals, petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, and other toxic compounds has become an escalating global concern, threatening both ecosystem health and human well-being. Conventional remediation methods—chemical, thermal, and physical—often prove costly, energy-intensive, and prone to generating secondary pollution, underscoring the need for sustainable alternatives. Mycoremediation, an emerging branch of bioremediation utilizing fungi, offers a promising, eco-friendly approach to detoxify contaminated environments. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the mechanisms and applications of fungal bioremediation. A comprehensive literature analysis was conducted to evaluate the enzymatic, biosorptive, and bioaccumulative roles of fungi in pollutant degradation and removal. Results from previous studies reveal that white-rot fungi, including Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Trametes versicolor, produce potent extracellular enzymes—lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase, and laccase—that can degrade persistent organic pollutants, dyes, and industrial wastes. Furthermore, fungal cell walls, rich in polysaccharides and proteins, facilitate the biosorption of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and mercury. These dual enzymatic and physicochemical processes highlight the versatility and efficiency of fungi in environmental detoxification. Despite its success at laboratory and pilot scales, challenges remain regarding large-scale implementation, ecological safety, and optimization of growth conditions under field environments. In conclusion, mycoremediation represents a cost-effective, sustainable, and biologically innovative strategy with great potential for future environmental restoration efforts. Continued interdisciplinary research integrating microbiology, biotechnology, and environmental engineering is crucial to unlock its full practical potential.

Keywords: Mycoremediation, White-rot fungi, Enzymatic degradation, Biosorption, Environmental restoration

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