Toxic effects of pollutants on the mineralization of acetate in methanogenic river sediment

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1994 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00197356· OSTI ID:35740

Vlaardingen, P L.A. van; Beelen, P van ^[1]

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1. National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven (Netherlands)

The highly industrialized drainage basin of the river Rhine has a total area of 160,000 km{sup 2} before it enters the Netherlands. About 58% of the river`s load of suspended matter is deposited in sedimentation areas in the Netherlands where the river eventually reaches the North Sea. These sediments are heavily polluted with persistent organic compounds and heavy metals and form a major environmental problem in the Netherlands. The Dutch research program on the {open_quotes}Ecological Rehabilitation of the River Rhine{close_quotes} included research on the effects of toxic compounds on the biodegradation in river sediments. The input of organic matter into the sediment is estimated to be 10{sup 8} kg C yr{sup {minus}1}. High numbers of bacteria are present and oxygen supplied by the overlying water will be rapidly consumed in the top layer of the sediment. The underlying part of the sediment is anoxic and there biodegradation of natural as well as anthropogenic organic substrates is dependent on anaerobic processes. Anaerobic mineralization of organic matter by micro-organisms is an essential component of the carbon cycle. Acetate is a key intermediate in anaerobic degradation of organic matter and a major component of anaerobic waste water. Hydrogen and carbon dioxide are also used directly to form methane but about 70% of the methane formation in anaerobic freshwater sediments is derived from acetate. This paper reports the effect of 6 toxicants on the anaerobic mineralization of acetate in methanogenic sediment microorganisms. The toxicants used - benzene, chloroform, 1,2-dichloroethane, petachlorophenol, mercury, zinc - are priority pollutants in the Rhine Action Program. 22 refs., 3 figs., 3 tabs.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• OSTI ID: 35740
• Journal Information: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, Journal Name: Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 52; ISSN 0007-4861; ISSN BECTA6
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ACETATES
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BIOLOGICAL PATHWAYS
CHLOROFORM
CONTAMINATION
MERCURY
METHANE
METHANOGENIC BACTERIA
MINERALIZATION
PHENOLS
POLLUTANTS
RHINE RIVER
ZINC