Biodegradation of tert-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate
The biodegradation of tert-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate (BPDP) was examined in microcosms containing sediment and water from five different ecosystems as part of studies to elucidate the environmental fate of phosphate ester flame retardants. Biodegradation of (/sup 14/C)BPDP was monitored in the environmental microcosms by measuring the evolution of /sup 14/CO/sub 2/. Over 37% of BPDP was mineralized after 8 weeks in microcosms from an ecosystem which had chronic exposure to agricultural chemicals. In contrast, only 1.7% of BPDP was degraded to /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ in samples collected from a noncontaminated site. The exposure concentration of BPDP affected the percentage which was degraded to /sup 14/CO/sub 2/ in microcosms from the two most active ecosystems. Mineralization was highest at a concentration of 0.1 mg of BPDP and was inhibited with 10- and 100-fold higher concentrations of BPDP. The authors observed adaptive increases in both microbial populations and phosphoesterase enzymes in some sediments acclimated to BPDP. Chemical analyses of the residues in the microcosms indicated undegraded BPDP and minor amounts of phenol, tert-butylphenol, diphenyl phosphate, and triphenyl phosphate as biodegradation products. These data suggest that the microbial degradation of BPDP results from at least three catabolic processes and is highest when low concentrations of BPDP are exposed to sediment microorganisms of eutrophic ecosystems which have high phosphotri- and diesterase activities and previous exposure to anthropogenic chemicals.
- Research Organization:
- Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, AR
- OSTI ID:
- 6195494
- Journal Information:
- Appl. Environ. Microbiol.; (United States), Vol. 51:2
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
ORGANIC PHOSPHORUS COMPOUNDS
BIODEGRADATION
MINERALIZATION
PHOSPHODIESTERASES
ENZYME ACTIVITY
BIOLOGICAL ADAPTATION
CARBON 14 COMPOUNDS
CARBON DIOXIDE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
METABOLISM
MICROORGANISMS
RESIDUES
SEDIMENTS
TRACER TECHNIQUES
WATER POLLUTION
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
DECOMPOSITION
ENZYMES
ESTERASES
HYDROLASES
ISOTOPE APPLICATIONS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
POLLUTION
520200* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)
550501 - Metabolism- Tracer Techniques