In Situ Stimulation of Aerobic PCB Biodegradation in Hudson River Sediments

A 73-day field study of in situ aerobic biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Hudson River shows that indigenous aerobic microorganisms can degrade the lightly chlorinated PCBs present in these sediments. Addition of inorganic nutrients, biphenyl, and oxygen enhanced PCB biodegra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1993-01, Vol.259 (5094), p.503-507
Main Authors: Harkness, M. R., McDermott, J. B., Abramowicz, D. A., Salvo, J. J., Flanagan, W. P., Stephens, M. L., Mondello, F. J., May, R. J., Lobos, J. H., Carroll, K. M., Brennan, M. J., Bracco, A. A., Fish, K. M., Warner, G. L., Wilson, P. R., Dietrich, D. K., Lin, D. T., Morgan, C. B., Gately, W. L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
560300 > Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
AEROBIC CONDITIONS
Aerobiosis
AROMATICS
Bacteria
Bacteria, Aerobic - metabolism
BIODEGRADATION
Biodegradation, Environmental
BIPHENYL
Caissons
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
Congeners
DECOMPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Fresh Water
Freshwater
HALOGENATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
HUDSON RIVER
HYDROCARBONS
IN-SITU PROCESSING
IN-SITU RETORTING
Inoculation
INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
Microbial ecology
MICROORGANISMS
NONMETALS
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN
Pollution
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
Polychlorinated Biphenyls - metabolism
Population growth
PROCESSING
RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT
Resins
RETORTING
River sediments
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS 540320 > Environment, Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
Water Microbiology
Water Pollutants, Chemical
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Summary:A 73-day field study of in situ aerobic biodegradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Hudson River shows that indigenous aerobic microorganisms can degrade the lightly chlorinated PCBs present in these sediments. Addition of inorganic nutrients, biphenyl, and oxygen enhanced PCB biodegradation, as indicated both by a 37 to 55 percent loss of PCBs and by the production of chlorobenzoates, intermediates in the PCB biodegradation pathway. Repeated inoculation with a purified PCB-degrading bacterium failed to improve biodegradative activity. Biodegradation was also observed under mixed but unamended conditions, which suggests that this process may occur commonly in river sediments, with implications for PCB fate models and risk assessments.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.8424172