Microbial biomass and activities associated with subsurface environments contaminated with chlorinated hydrocarbons

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Geomicrobiology Journal; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/01490458809377835· OSTI ID:6949467

Phelps, T J; Ringelberg, D; Hedrick, D; Davis, J; Fliermans, C B ^[1]

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1. Univ. of Tennessee, Knoxville (USA)

Soil microcosms and enrichment cultures from subsurface sediments and ground waters contaminated with trichloroethylene (TCE) were examined. Total lipids, (1-C{sub 14})acetate incorporation into lipids, and (Me{sup 3}H)thymidine incorporation into DNA were determined in these subsurface environments. In heavily TCE-contaminated zones radioisotopes were not incorporated into lipids or DNA. Radioisotope incorporation occurred in sediments both above and below the TCE plume. Phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA) were not detected, i.e., < 0.5 pmol/L in heavily contaminated groundwater samples. In less contaminated waters, extracted PLFA concentrations were greater than 100 pmol/L and microbial isolates were readily obtained. Degradation of 30-100 mg/L TCE was observed when sediments were amended with a variety of energy sources. Microorganisms in these subsurface sediments have adapted to degrade TCE at concentrations greater than 50 mg/L. 34 refs., 4 figs., 4 tabs.

• OSTI ID: 6949467
• Journal Information: Geomicrobiology Journal; (USA), Journal Name: Geomicrobiology Journal; (USA) Vol. 6:3-4; ISSN 0149-0451; ISSN GEJOD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring &amp; Transport-- (1990-)
550501 -- Metabolism-- Tracer Techniques
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism &amp; Toxicology
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AZINES
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CHLORINATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
DNA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
GROUND WATER
HALOGENATED ALIPHATIC HYDROCARBONS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
LIPIDS
METABOLISM
MICROCOSMS
MICROORGANISMS
NUCLEIC ACIDS
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC CHLORINE COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC HALOGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PYRIMIDINES
RIBOSIDES
SEDIMENTS
SOILS
SUBSURFACE ENVIRONMENTS
THYMIDINE
TRACER TECHNIQUES
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
WATER