Effects of polychlorinated biphenyls on growth and respiration of heterotrophic marine bacteria
A number of marine bacterial isolates from both near-shore and open-ocean environments were tested for growth inhibition with exposure to low concentrations (1 to 100 ..mu..g/liter) of Aroclor 1254, a commercial mixture of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Of over 17 bacterial cultures tested, growth of only two open-ocean isolates, one a pseudomonad and the other a tetrad-forming coccus, was consistently inhibited by Aroclor at concentrations as low as 10 ..mu..g/liter (10 ppB). Growth inhibition was dose dependent over a concentration range of 10 to 100 ..mu..g/liter. The effects upon division rates and final cell yields of each bacterial isolate were greatest when PCBs were added to cultures with low cell densities or with lower specific growth rates. The pseudomonad also had reduced carotenoid levels and an altered filamentous morphology with Aroclor present at a concentration of 10 ..mu..g/liter, or more. The effects noted were reversible for at least 18 h after initial exposure. Concentrations of Aroclor in excess of those needed to stop growth had no detectable effect upon the respiration rate of cells of either culture. This suggests that the reduced division rates observed were not due to inability of PCB-treated cells to transport or catabolize the carbohydrate or amino acid substrates tested.
- Research Organization:
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, MA
- DOE Contract Number:
- E(11-1)-3563
- OSTI ID:
- 6642265
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 35:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AROMATICS
TOXICITY
BACTERIA
RESPIRATION
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
CARBOHYDRATES
CAROTENOIDS
DOSE-RESPONSE RELATIONSHIPS
GROWTH
INHIBITION
METABOLISM
MORPHOLOGY
SENSITIVITY
ECOSYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
MICROORGANISMS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
PIGMENTS
TERPENES
560302* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)
550700 - Microbiology