Phenanthrene degradation by <i>Bacillus cereus</i> strain Sneb1168 isolated from Reynosa, Mexico

Phenanthrene is classified as a priority environmental pollutant because of its impact on the environment and on human health as a mutagenic and carcinogenic agent. The aim of this study was isolated and identified new bacteria with the capability to degrade phenanthrene from Reynosa, Mexico. <i>Achromobacter insolitus</i>, <i>Bacillus cereus</i>, and <i>Microbacterium thalassium</i> had high tolerant to phenanthrene (250 mg L^-1). Biodegradation experiments in liquid culture evidenced that <i>Bacillus cereus</i> strain Sneb1168 degraded 48.58% of phenanthrene at 500 mg L^-1 after 32 days. Remarkably, in the soil system, <i>B. cereus</i> degraded 72.9% of phenanthrene at 250 mg kg^-1 dw. These results highlight the potential of <i>B. cereus</i> strain Sneb1168 to be used as an agent for the remotion of phenanthrene from contaminated soils.