Skip to main content
OSTI.GOVU.S. Department of Energy Office of Scientific and Technical Information
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information
 

Effects of microbial activity on aquatic pollutants

Conference · · Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.; (United States)
OSTI ID:5336025
; ; ; ;

Bacteria and fungi present in estuarine and marine water and sediment accomplish significant degradation of crude oil, refined oils, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organomercurials, with the rate and extent of degradation varying with species, geographic source, temperature, and other biologic and environmental parameters. Our biodegradation studies have been extended to determine if physical weathering and/or microbial degradation of oil by microorganisms present in Chesapeake Bay water and sediment produces potentially carcinogenic substances. Water and sediment from an area in Chesapeake Bay that receives heavy input of oil and from a relatively nonpolluted site have been assayed for mutagenic ability by use of the Ames method, which is a bacterial assay and is highly sensitive. Preliminary findings indicate the presence of mutagenic substances in samples collected from the polluted site. Extracts of oil subjected to microbial degradation under controlled laboratory conditions did not yield detectable mutagenic activity. In situ studies are in progress.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Maryland, College Park
OSTI ID:
5336025
Journal Information:
Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.; (United States), Journal Name: Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci.; (United States) Vol. 298; ISSN ANYAA
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

Similar Records

Mutagenic potential of petroleum byproducts in Chesapeake Bay waters. Technical report No. 39
Technical Report · Mon Feb 28 23:00:00 EST 1977 · OSTI ID:6078995
Mutagenic potential of petroleum byproducts in Chesapeake waters
Journal Article · Fri Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1976 · Gov. Rep. Announce. Index (U.S.); (United States) · OSTI ID:5575637
Naphthalenes associated with treated wastewater effluents in an urban national wildlife refuge
Journal Article · Wed Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1990 · Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (USA) · OSTI ID:7101531

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOMASS
CARCINOGENESIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHESAPEAKE BAY
DECOMPOSITION
ENERGY SOURCES
ESTUARIES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
FUNGI
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MERCURY COMPOUNDS
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
MUTAGENESIS
OILS
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATHOGENESIS
PETROLEUM
PLANTS
POLLUTION
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
SEAS
SEAWATER
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
WATER POLLUTION