Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) encompass a huge and diverse group of priority environmental pollutants, which are ubiquitous contaminants derived from both natural and anthropogenic processes. Their abundance in the environment is of immense concern because many of them are toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic. Among them, acenaphthene has often been used as a model substrate to investigate the microbial metabolism of PAHs since its structural skeletons are found in many carcinogenic PAHs. The current article, in brief, describes the advances that have occurred in the area in terms of the origin, occurrence, and significance of acenaphthene found in the environment. The destiny of acenaphthene by various microorganisms in the environment is also discussed concisely in light of the degradation pathway depicting several metabolites and enzyme-substrate/metabolite relationships.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), environmental pollutants, carcinogenic, Acenaphthene, biodegradation