Narrative review discusses mycoremediation for crude oil contamination in the Niger Delta

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Frontiers in Medicine Published May 18, 2026 Medically reviewed May 18, 2026 DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Consider mycoremediation as a potential alternative to conventional techniques for crude oil contamination in the Niger Delta.

This narrative review focuses on the application of mycoremediation using indigenous fungal strains as a strategy for managing crude oil contamination. The scope of the discussion centers on local communities situated in the Niger Delta region. The authors synthesize arguments suggesting that traditional methods frequently fail to address the specific challenges posed by the area's unique environmental conditions and the extensive depth of the contamination.

The review does not provide specific numerical data regarding primary outcomes or secondary outcomes as these were not reported in the source material. Similarly, details on adverse events, tolerability, or discontinuations were not reported. The text serves to explore the conceptual utility of fungal strains rather than presenting pooled effect sizes or trial-level statistics.

The authors identify a key limitation where conventional techniques prove inadequate for the region's unique environmental conditions and the sheer depth of contamination. This gap underscores the need for alternative approaches. The practice relevance discussed involves advancing environmental justice in this critically polluted region. Readers should interpret these findings as qualitative arguments rather than quantitative evidence, given the absence of reported sample sizes and follow-up durations.

Study Details

Study typeSystematic review

EvidenceLevel 1

PublishedMay 2026

View Original Abstract ↓

The extensive environmental degradation resulting from decades of crude oil contamination in the Niger Delta necessitates a critical re-evaluation of current restoration strategies. This crisis has persistently impacted soil and water resources, decimated mangrove forests, and undermined the socio-economic stability of local communities. An appraisal of current remediation efforts reveals a significant performance gap, with conventional techniques proving inadequate for the region's unique environmental conditions and the sheer depth of contamination. This review critically assesses the potential of mycoremediation in aerated environments as a superior, ecologically congruent alternative. We explore the distinct morphological and metabolic advantages of fungi over bacteria, particularly the ability of filamentous mycelial networks to penetrate and colonize deep soil matrices, thereby overcoming the critical depth limitations of existing methods. The paper investigates dual mechanisms of fungal action: potent enzymatic degradation via non-specific extracellular enzymes and non-enzymatic biosorption of pollutants. Furthermore, it analyzes how key environmental modulators in the Niger Delta, specifically acidic pH, mesophilic temperatures, and fluctuating water potential naturally select for fungal dominance. The review concludes by advocating for a paradigm shift away from generic microbial solutions toward bioprospecting and cultivating potent, indigenous fungal strains pre-adapted to local contaminants. Ultimately, this paper frames mycoremediation as a low-cost, decentralized technology capable of empowering communities, restoring livelihoods, and advancing environmental justice in this critically polluted region.