Mycoremediation: Using Fungi to Clean Up Environmental Pollution
Mycoremediation uses fungi — primarily white-rot species — to break down petroleum hydrocarbons, pesticides, and heavy metals in contaminated environments.
Mycoremediation is the use of fungi — typically white-rot species like *Pleurotus ostreatus* (oyster mushroom) and *Phanerochaete chrysosporium* — to break down or sequester environmental contaminants. Fungal mycelium secretes powerful extracellular enzymes (laccases, peroxidases) that degrade petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), and some pesticides. Certain species also accumulate heavy metals (lead, cadmium, mercury), enabling phytoextraction-style cleanup of contaminated soils. Paul Stamets has been a prominent advocate, demonstrating oil-spill remediation using oyster mushroom mycelium in controlled experiments. Advantages over conventional remediation include low cost, minimal secondary waste, and the ability to treat soil *in situ* without excavation. Limitations include slow timelines (weeks to months), sensitivity to site conditions (pH, moisture, temperature), and difficulty scaling in saturated or deeply contaminated soils. Mycoremediation is distinct from phytoremediation (using plants) and bioremediation (using bacteria), though in practice these approaches are often combined. The field remains largely experimental, with limited large-scale commercial deployment despite promising laboratory results. **See also:** Medicinal Mushrooms: Clinical Evidence vs Supplement Industry Hype