Abstract
The feasibility of decontaminating soil at parathion spillage or disposal sites by inoculation with a highly acclimated culture of parathion-degrading bacteria was demonstrated underin situ field conditions. The acclimated culture (AC), capable of utilizing parathion as a sole carbon and energy source, was inoculated into Yolo silt loam soil in which parathion was applied at rates up to 5000 kg/ha. The AC was shown to be capable of completely degrading parathion in soil containing up to 1250 kg/ha of parathion within 35 days. A slower rate of parathion degradation by the AC was observed when the pesticide was applied as the commercial 46.5% emulsifiable concentrate than when applied as the 98% technical grade. The ability of the AC to degrade parathion deteriorated at application rates greater than 1250 kg/ha. The AC may have been adversely affected by the accumulation of the parathion hydrolytic products,p-nitrophenol and ionic diethyl thiophosphate, which were tentatively identified in soil samples.
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Barles, R.W., Daughton, C.G. & Hsieh, D.P.H. Accelerated parathion degradation in soil inoculated with acclimated bacteria under field conditions. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 8, 647–660 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054867
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01054867