Elimination of endocrine disrupting chemicals using white rot fungi and their lignin modifying enzymes: A review

The ability of white rot fungi (WRF) and their lignin modifying enzymes (LMEs), i.e. laccase and lignin- and manganese-dependent peroxidase, to treat endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is extensively reviewed in this paper. These chemicals cause adverse health effects by mimicking endogenous hormones in receiving organisms. The alkylphenolic EDCs nonylphenol, bisphenol A and triclosan, the phthalic acid esters dibutylphthalate, diethylphthalate and di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, the natural estrogens estrone, 17 beta-estradiol, estriol and 17 alpha-ethynylestradiol and the phytoestrogens genistein and P-sitosterol have been shown to be eliminated by several fungi and LMEs. WRF have manifested a highly efficient removal of EDCs in aqueous media and soil matrices using both LME and non LME-systems. The ligninolytic system of WRF could also be used for the elimination of several EDCs and the associated hormone-mimicking activity. The transformation of EDCs by LMEs and WRF is supported by emerging knowledge on the physiology and biochemistry of these organisms and the biocatalytic properties of their enzymes. Due to field reaction conditions, which drastically differ from laboratory conditions, further efforts will have to be directed towards developing robust and reliable biotechnological processes for the treatment of EDC-contaminated environmental matrices.