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Manganese-reducing Pseudomonas fluorescens-group bacteria control arsenic mobility in gold mining-contaminated groundwater

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Abstract

Previous studies show the importance of iron- and arsenate-reducing bacteria in mobilizing arsenic in groundwater. Here the authors present experimental evidence of arsenic mobilization in connection with bacterially mediated manganese reduction in groundwater affected by mining activities. Manganese-reducing Pseudomonas species were enriched, isolated and identified by 16S rRNA gene phylogeny from groundwater containing high co-dissolved arsenic (as AsIII) and manganese. Enrichment cultures dissolved synthetic birnessite and hausmannite efficiently, but Mn reduction by isolates was reduced at the upper range of environmental levels of dissolved AsIII. Results suggest either a self-limiting release of arsenic coupled to bacterial manganese reduction, in the absence of other electron donors like sulfide, or increased arsenic resistance conferred to Mn-reducing bacteria in consortia.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Crocodile Gold Corp. (formerly Northgate Minerals Corp.), Stawell, Victoria, for access to historical data and fieldwork support at the Stawell gold mine. We thank Dr. Helen Billman–Jacobe of the University of Melbourne for a culture of Pseudomonas aeruginosa used as a control in this study. The authors thank Ms. Emily Hepburn for field- and lab-work support, and Prof. John Webb of LaTrobe University for XRD data. This research received financial support from Northgate Minerals Corp. to J.W.M. and A.S.H., a Strategic Research Initiative grant from the University of Melbourne to J.W.M., and a research scholarship from the School of Earth Sciences at the University of Melbourne to A.S.H.

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  1. Anne S. Horvath

    Present address: GHD, Melbourne, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia

    Anne S. Horvath, Lon V. Garrick & John W. Moreau

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  1. Anne S. Horvath
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Correspondence to John W. Moreau.

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A. S. Horvath and L. V. Garrick have contributed equally to this work.

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12665_2013_2809_MOESM1_ESM.pdf

X-ray diffraction spectrum of synthetic Mn-oxide used in microbial Mn-reduction culturing experiments. Pattern shows the presence of both birnessite and hausmannite phases. 1 (PDF 39 kb)

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Horvath, A.S., Garrick, L.V. & Moreau, J.W. Manganese-reducing Pseudomonas fluorescens-group bacteria control arsenic mobility in gold mining-contaminated groundwater. Environ Earth Sci 71, 4187–4198 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2809-x

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