Mercury-resistant bacteria and petroleum degradation

Journal Article · Mon Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1973 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5983622

Walker, J D; Colwell, R R

The concentration of mercury in water and sediment and in the oil extracted from water and sediment was determined for samples collected in Colgate Creek, located in Baltimore Harbor of the Chesapeake Bay. The concentration of mercury in the oil was 4000 times higher than in sediment and 300,000 times higher than in water samples. The mercury-resistant bacterial populations of the samples studied have been shown to degrade oil, suggesting these bacteria to be a significant factor in the degradation of oil in Colgate Creek.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Maryland, College Park
• OSTI ID: 5983622
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 27:1; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

520200* -- Environment
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54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
550700 -- Microbiology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ATLANTIC OCEAN
BACTERIA
BAYS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHESAPEAKE BAY
DECOMPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
ENERGY SOURCES
FOSSIL FUELS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
MERCURY
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM
SEAS
SEDIMENTS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
WATER