Impact of Metals on the Biodegradation of Organic Pollutants

Forty percent of hazardous waste sites in the United States are co-contaminated with organic and metal pollutants. Data from both aerobic and anaerobic systems demonstrate that biodegradation of the organic component can be reduced by metal toxicity. Metal bioavailability, determined primarily by me...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental health perspectives 2003-06, Vol.111 (8), p.1093-1101
Main Authors: Sandrin, Todd R., Maier, Raina M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioavailability
Biodegradation
Biodegradation, Environmental
Biological Availability
Cadmium
Cations
Heavy metals
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Metals, Heavy - chemistry
Organic Chemicals - metabolism
Organic pollution
Reviews
Sedimentary soils
Soil Microbiology
Soil Pollutants - metabolism
Soil pollution
Soil toxicity
Toxicity
Zinc
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Summary:Forty percent of hazardous waste sites in the United States are co-contaminated with organic and metal pollutants. Data from both aerobic and anaerobic systems demonstrate that biodegradation of the organic component can be reduced by metal toxicity. Metal bioavailability, determined primarily by medium composition/soil type and pH, governs the extent to which metals affect biodegradation. Failure to consider bioavailability rather than total metal likely accounts for much of the enormous variability among reports of inhibitory concentrations of metals. Metals appear to affect organic biodegradation through impacting both the physiology and ecology of organic degrading microorganisms. Recent approaches to increasing organic biodegradation in the presence of metals involve reduction of metal bioavailability and include the use of metal-resistant bacteria, treatment additives, and clay minerals. The addition of divalent cations and adjustment of pH are additional strategies currently under investigation.
ISSN:0091-6765
1552-9924
DOI:10.1289/ehp.5840