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Biodegradation of Dichloromethane in an Estuarine Environment

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Abstract

Dichloromethane (DCM) is a toxic pollutant showing prolonged persistence in water. So far, biodegradation of DCM has only been reported in soils and freshwater systems. Herein, we studied whether or not biodegradation of DCM could occur in estuarine waters. Results showed over 90% mineralization of DCM in natural estuarine waters supplemented with DCM. Biodegradation of DCM in estuarine waters occurred by association of different bacterial species. Generally, two bacterial species participated in DCM degradation. Two bacterial consortia were obtained. Consortia were able to degrade around 80% of DCM in about 6 days. The species involved in the process were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing; a consortium was constituted by Pseudomonas sp. and Brevundimonas sp. and a second consortium was formed by Pseudomonas sp. and an Acinetobacter sp. Our results showed that DCM can be readily biodegraded in estuarine waters.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Moscow Region, Pushchino, Russia

    Valentina I. Krausova

  2. Center of Marine Biotechnology, 701 E. Pratt St., Baltimore, MD, 21202, USA

    Frank T. Robb

  3. Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología, CSIC, Apartado 1052, 41080, Sevilla, Spain

    Juan M. González

Authors
  1. Valentina I. Krausova
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  2. Frank T. Robb
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  3. Juan M. González
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Correspondence to Juan M. González.

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Krausova, V.I., Robb, F.T. & González, J.M. Biodegradation of Dichloromethane in an Estuarine Environment. Hydrobiologia 559, 77–83 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-0571-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-004-0571-5

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