Response of microorganisms to an accidental gasoline spillage in an Arctic freshwater ecosystem

Journal Article · Wed Jun 01 04:00:00 EDT 1977 · Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7210054

Horowitz, A; Atlas, R M

The response of microorganisms to an accidental spillage of 55,000 gallons of leaded gasoline into an Arctic freshwater lake was studied. Shifts in microbial populations were detected after the spillage, reflecting the migration pattern of the gasoline, enrichment for hydrocarbon utilizers, and selection for leaded-gasoline-tolerant microorganisms. Ratios of gasoline-tolerant/utilizing heterotrophs to ''total'' heterotrophs were found to be a sensitive indicator of the degree of hydrocarbon contamination. Respiration rates were elevated in the highly contaminated area, but did not reflect differences between moderately and lightly contaminated areas. Hydrocarbon biodegradation potential experiments showed that indigenous microorganisms could extensively convert hydrocarbons to CO/sub 2/. In situ measurement of gasoline degradation showed that, if untreated, sediment samples retained significant amounts of gasoline hydrocarbons including ''volatile components'' at the time the lake froze for the winter. Nutrient addition and bacterial inoculation resulted in enhanced biodegradative losses, significantly reducing the amount of residual hydrocarbons. Enhanced biodegradation, however, resulted in the appearance of compounds not detected in the gasoline. Since the contaminated lake serves as a drinking water supply, treatment to enhance microbial removal of much of the remaining gasoline still may be advisable.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Louisville, KY
• OSTI ID: 7210054
• Journal Information: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Journal Name: Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States) Vol. 33:6; ISSN AEMID
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

02 PETROLEUM
020900 -- Petroleum-- Environmental Aspects
520200 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560302* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology-- Microorganisms-- (-1987)
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
ARCTIC REGIONS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTAMINATION
DECOMPOSITION
DRINKING WATER
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
FREEZING
FRESH WATER
FUELS
GASOLINE
HYDROCARBONS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INOCULATION
LAKES
LEAD
METALS
MICROORGANISMS
MIGRATION
NUTRIENTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
RESPIRATION
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
TOLERANCE
WATER
WATER POLLUTION