A master's thesis, Department of Ecology, College of Science, University of Basrah, discussed the biodegrading of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by isolated fungi from soils contaminated with crude oil in the province of Basra.

The researcher Zainab Abd al-Kareem Ahmed's thesis included a study of the ability of fungi to biodegrade polycyclic aromatic Hydrocarbons for two types of light and heavy crude oil.

The thesis aims to treat oil pollutants, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and two types of bioactive light and heavy crude oil, and determine the optimal factors for fungal growth and biodegradation.

The thesis recommended the use of biological treatment of oil pollutants in the environment while providing optimal conditions for fungal growth and use more than one type of fungi in the treatment process of oil pollution.