Fate of sup 14 C-Trichloroethylene in soil-plant systems

Conference · Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5760552

Anderson, R A ^[1]; Walton, B T ^[2]

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1. Tennessee Univ., Knoxville, TN (USA)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)

Originally described for legumes by Lorenz Hiltner in 1904, the rhizosphere is a zone of increased microbial density and activity at the root-soil interface. Plant roots secrete a variety of organic compounds into the surrounding soil which lubricate the root as well as provide nourishment for and attract microorganisms. The exudates, along with root cortical cells sloughed off through abrasive actions with the soil, provide a rich nutrient source for growth of the microbial community in the rhizosphere. Studies examining the fate of pesticides applied to rhizosphere soil or microorganisms isolated from the root zone have revealed a marked decrease in persistence of these compounds. These early findings in pesticide research, along with the promise of a cost-effective remediation strategy, provided the incentive to explore whether vegetation could be used to promote microbial degradation of hazardous organic compounds. In experiments which are presented, the fate of {sup 14}C-TCE in whole plant systems composed of soil and vegetation from a contaminated field site was monitored. Findings from these experiments provide further evidence that vegetation may play an important role in remediation of TCE- contaminated soils. In addition, the data reveal the magnitude of plant uptake of hazardous organic compounds treated in this manner, and thus potentially gain entry to human and/or wildlife food chains. 11 refs., 2 figs., 1 tab.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400; AC09-89SR18035
• OSTI ID: 5760552
• Report Number(s): CONF-910812-5-Extd.Abst.; ON: DE91013727
• Resource Relation: Conference: 202. national meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS), New York, NY (USA), 25-30 Aug 1991
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT
PESTICIDES
UPTAKE
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC MATTER
PLANTS
POLLUTANTS
ROOTS
SOILS
SOLVENTS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
CARBON ISOTOPES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
LIGHT NUCLEI
MASS TRANSFER
MATERIALS
NUCLEI
RADIOISOTOPES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
550500 - Metabolism
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)