PCB congener selective biodegradation by the white rot fungus Pleurotus ostreatus in contaminated soil

Six strains of white rot fungi were tested for their biodegradation ability of low chlorinated polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) commercial mixture (Delo r 103) in real soil system. Phanerochaete chrysosporium and Trametes versic olor did not show any ability to degrade PCBs in soil. On the contrary, fou r strains of Pleurotus ostreatus were able to remove about 40% of Delor 103 in two months. All P. ostreatus strains decomposed PCBs selectively with t he preference for congeners with chlorine atoms in ortho>meta>para position . Degradation efficiency decreased with increasing number of chlorination. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.