In situ biodegradation: Microbiological patterns in a contaminated aquifer

Journal Article · Fri May 10 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.2028258· OSTI ID:6058201

Madsen, E L; Sinclair, J L; Ghiorse, W C ^[1]

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1. Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)

Conventional approaches for proving in situ biodegradation of organic pollutants in aquifers have severe limitations. In the approach described here, patterns in a comprehensive set of microbiological activity and distribution data were analyzed. Measurements were performed on sediment samples gathered at consistent depths in aquifer boreholes spanning a gradient of contaminant concentrations at a buried coal tar site. Microbial adaptation to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was demonstrated by mineralization of naphthalene and phenanthrene in samples from PAH-contaminated, but not adjacent pristine, zones. Furthermore, contaminant-stimulated in situ bacterial growth was indicated because enhanced numbers of protozoa and their bacterial prey were found exclusively in contaminated subsurface samples. The data suggest that many convergent lines of logically linked indirect evidence can effectively document in situ biodegradation of aquifer contaminants.

• OSTI ID: 6058201
• Journal Information: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States), Journal Name: Science (Washington, D.C.); (United States) Vol. 252:5007; ISSN SCIEA; ISSN 0036-8075
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
AQUIFERS
AROMATICS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DATA
DECOMPOSITION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
HYDROCARBONS
INFORMATION
NUMERICAL DATA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
WATER POLLUTION