Microalgae mediated bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Strategies, advancement and regulations.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are pervasive in the atmosphere and are one of the emerging pollutants that cause harmful effects in living systems. There are some natural and anthropogenic sources that can produce PAHs in an uncontrolled way. Several health hazards associated with PAHs like abnormality in the reproductive system, endocrine system as well as immune system have been explained.

Diatoms: Miniscule biological entities with immense importance in synthesis of targeted novel bioparticles and biomonitoring.

Diatoms are the most abundant microscopic unicellular protists in natural lotic ecosystems. They are the major component of the producer community in aquatic ecosystems that also play important roles in biostratigraphy, paleoclimatology and overall ecosystem functioning. In recent times as ultrastructural details of diatom frustule has been established, it has become evident that frustule nanoscale structures play a significant role in adsorption and bioaccumulation of heavy metals.