Mycoremediation of hexachlorocyclohexane contamination: a focused analysis of research from the last 25 years

Abstract Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) is a persistent organic pollutant (POP) of global concern with potentially toxic effects on humans and ecosystems. Despite its ban under the Stockholm Convention, residues of the various isomers (α-, β-, γ-, δ-HCH) are still present across different environmental matrices, especially in soils. Fungi are considered excellent candidates for the mycoremediation of HCH-contaminated soils. Thanks to their complex enzymatic systems, fungi prove to be optimal, offering an eco-friendly and sustainable solution while achieving excellent results, even in the degradation of its most persistent isomer, β-HCH, and contributing to vital ecosystem services. The aim of this review is to analyse articles on HCH-bioremediation with fungi occurring in the Scopus database covering the last 25 years (range 2000–2025). The results indicate that research is predominantly focused on filamentous fungi and also includes studies on yeast strains and integrated approaches, such as microbial consortia and microbially-assisted phytoremediation. In conclusion, the analysis reveals a complex but highly promising outlook: it not only establishes a solid scientific framework for the role of fungi in the context of HCH-remediation but also highlights the necessity of moving toward integrated, sustainable solutions. This overview confirms the efficacy of mycoremediation as an effective and widely applicable environmental biotechnology.