Sources, fate, and treatment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the polluted environment

Abstract Soil is a vital source for life on the earth, but the growing urbanization and industrialization leads to its pollution. One of the most concerned classes of pollutants is polyaromatic hydrocarbons that are generated due to incomplete burning of organic matter. Any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) compound is commonly found in mixtures with other PAHs in the environment, for example, soot. Most of these compounds are mutagenic and carcinogenic; so it became very concerning to remove these harmful chemicals from our surroundings. To achieve this goal, microbial degradation works as a boon but with some limitations. To overcome these boundaries, genetic engineering of known PAH-degrading microorganisms seems like the solution.