A master's thesis in the Department of Ecology at the College of Science at the University of Basra explored the use of fungi in the bioremediation of some heavy elements.

The thesis submitted by researcher Zahraa Saad Lazem aims to find efficient types of fungi that have the ability to accumulate heavy elements inside their bodies and remove them from the environment for the purpose of using them in the bioremediation of soil contaminated with heavy elements.

The thesis included a statement of heavy elements, their types, harms, advantages, biological and traditional treatment methods, the effect of some important environmental factors on the growth of fungi and their accumulation of heavy elements, and testing the ability of fungi to treat soil contaminated with heavy elements.

The thesis recommended using the fungus Aspergillus niger to treat contaminated heavy elements and adding the nutritional catalyst "NPK" to improve the bioremediation process.