Mineralization of phenolic compounds by various fleshy fungi

One of the major environmental problems facing the world today is the contamination of soil, water and air by toxic chemicals. The past 200 years has seen a rapid increase in populations worldwide resulting in the need for greater fuel demand and development of industrial chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides and pharmaceuticals to sustain and improve quality of life. Although many of these chemicals are utilized or destroyed, high percentage is released into the air, water and soil, representing a potential environmental hazard. Environmental pollution has become unacceptable for modern living as public awareness of its effects on the environment has increased. Eight billion pounds of hazardous organopollutants are produced annually in the United States and very few percentages of these are disposed safely. Many of these are resistant to degradation.