Biotransformation of polycyclic aromatic compounds by fungi

Abstract

1. Incubations of several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heteroaromatic compounds with a series of common micro-organisms have been performed.

2. The PAHs were not metabolized by any of the fungi studied.

3. The sulphur-containing heterocyclic aromatic compounds dibenzothiophene, thiox-anthone and thiochromanone were oxidized at sulphur by C. elegans.

4. Other fungi are capable of oxidation at the sulphur atom of dibenzothiophene and thioxanthone.

5. C-1 and C-3 methyl substituted thioxanthones are hydroxylated at the methyl group by C. elegans.