Response of microorganisms to an accidental gasoline spillage in an Arctic freshwater ecosystem
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), Vol. 33:6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
02 PETROLEUM
ARCTIC REGIONS
WATER POLLUTION
GASOLINE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
BACTERIA
BIODEGRADATION
CARBON DIOXIDE
CONTAMINATION
DRINKING WATER
FREEZING
FRESH WATER
HYDROCARBONS
INOCULATION
LAKES
LEAD
MICROORGANISMS
MIGRATION
NUTRIENTS
POPULATIONS
RESPIRATION
SEDIMENTS
TOLERANCE
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
FUELS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
METALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLAR REGIONS
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
WATER
560302* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology- Microorganisms- (-1987)
520200 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
020900 - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects