Microbial Mineralization and Transformation of Phenanthrene in Coastal Sediment Microcosms

Details

• Personal Author:
  Aelion CM ; Tidwell AD
• Description:
  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pose a significant threat to the environment and public health due to their widespread nature and carcinogenic potential. Due to their hydrophobicity, PAHs tend to bind tightly to sediment and sediment organic matter. The objective of this research was to examine to what extent indigenous microbes from 4 different coastal sediments degraded radiolabeled 14C-phenanthrene (PHE) to 14CO2 or transformation products. 14CO2 produced in sediment microcosms was trapped in NaOH and quantified using a liquid scintillation counter. The fate of the sediment-bound PHE and the formation of transformation products were determined through a series of solvent and organic matter extractions. Results indicated that up to 70% of the initial PHE added was mineralized within 50 days of incubation in golf course aquatic sediments. There was evidence that a significant fraction (20%) of 14C-PHE became incorporated into a bound residue with the organic matter as a result of a biological reaction. In contrast, bacteria from undeveloped estuarine sediments did not rapidly degrade PHE. Transformation products may be formed in some sediments and incorporated into a bound residue thereby immobilizing the remaining PHE. However, PHE may remain relatively unchanged in other sediments and thus have greater potential to migrate from the sediment and contaminant the water column when sorbed to colloids or other mobile particles. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Environmental Pollution Microbiology Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Environmental Contamination Environmental Monitoring Ground Water Microorganisms Phenanthrene Polychlorinated Aromatic Hydrocarbons Soil Bacteria
• Publisher:
  SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry)
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 4 ; South Carolina
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  60
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20057790
• Citation:
  SETAC 21st Annual Meeting: Environmental Sciences in the 21st Century: Paradigms, Opportunities, and Challenges, November 12-16, 2000, Nashville, Tennessee. Pensacola, FL: SETAC (Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry), 2000 Nov; :60
• CAS Registry Number:
  Phenanthrene (CAS RN 85-01-8)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2001
• Performing Organization:
  Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  19940701
• Source Full Name:
  SETAC 21st Annual Meeting: Environmental Sciences in the 21st Century: Paradigms, Opportunities, and Challenges, November 12-16, 2000, Nashville, Tennessee
• End Date:
  20040630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:03e5abe9ef2e87b5b012a113690ebfa66946b358d0c00197d67ea90b511c0d08c257679901c64b71848981b400120762bd1d9b8148aa67780d752ff68026d978
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/215022/cdc_215022_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 131.59 KB ]