贵阳市表层土壤中多环芳烃的分布特征及来源解析

运用高效液相色谱仪对贵阳市区及近郊的表层土壤中16种多环芳烃(PAHs)进行了定量分析,对其分布特征、污染水平以及来源进行了探讨.结果表明:土壤中PAHs含量为61～ 1560 μg·kg-1,城区土壤样品中PAHs含量为247～1560 μg·kg-1,郊区土壤样品中PAHs含量为61 ～339 μg· kg-1,土壤中4环、5环PAHs含量较高,在土壤PAHs含量中占有绝对优势;参照国外环境标准,对区域表层土壤PAHs的污染现状进行了评价,结果显示,贵阳市表层土壤受到一定程度的PAHs污染.利用相关系数法和典型源三角图法对PAHs的可能来源进行了解析,发现贵阳市的土壤主要受到燃煤排放以及混合污染源——燃煤与汽车尾气排放PAHs的联合污染.     

分枝杆菌TZh51菌株的分离鉴定及其生物修复污染土壤的特性

[目的]为获得降解芘的微生物菌株,并用其生物修复被多环芳烃污染的土壤.[方法]芘降解菌的分离采用平板升华法.根据表型观察、生理生化特性和16S rDNA的序列同源性分析,对菌株进行分类学鉴定.通过活菌计数、HPLC测定多环芳烃的残留量,研究菌株在固体、液体无机盐培养基以及在污染土壤中降解多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)的能力.[结果]分离到4株能降解芘的菌株TZh51、TZh52、TG42和TG52.实验结果表明,TZh51降解PAHs的能力强于其余3株菌.TZh51被鉴定为分枝杆菌属(Mycobacterium sp.),但与已发表的分枝杆菌菌株M11为不同的种.TZh51接种在芘膜的固体无机盐培养基上,测定获得最大芘降解量的条件是培养温度为3512和芘膜厚度为130 ng/mm2.在芘浓度为50、100 mg/L的液体无机盐培养基中培养,6天时TZh51的芘降解率分别达到91.9%、71.8%,10天时菌体数量分别达到最大值为2.0、6.0×108cfu/mL;TZh51降解芘的效果强于M11.在种植作物的处理中,到第6周时TZh51的菌体数量达到每克干土含7.2×108个菌落数,到第8周时菲、荧蒽和芘的降解率分别达到91.4%、86.9%和85.8%;[结论]TZh51具有很强降解PAHs的能力;另外,TZh51与作物联合生物修复污染土壤的效果明显.     

污灌土壤中多环芳烃（PAHs）的积累与动态变化研究

对污灌土壤中 1 4种多环芳烃的分析表明 ,各灌区土壤中 PAHs的积累一般以渠首最高 ,渠中次之 ,渠尾含量与对照相当 .但在沈抚石油灌区上、中和下游土壤中均有PAHs的积累 .此外 ,水稻生长期污灌可明显增加土壤中 PAHs的总量 ,各单一污染物的增、减趋势有所不同 .     

黄河三角洲石油化工区农田土壤-玉米体系PAHs的分布特征及风险评价

为明确黄河三角洲石油开采区表层土壤和玉米中多环芳烃（PAHs）的含量及其污染水平,采集农田土壤和玉米各71个样品,检测农田土壤和玉米各部位中16种PAHs含量,并采用内梅罗指数法和健康风险评价模型评估了农田土壤中多环芳烃的生态健康风险。结果表明,农田土壤、玉米根、茎和叶中多环芳烃的含量分别为256.6-1936、291.4-680.9、324.9-527.9、289.5-2400 μg/kg。农田土壤中多环芳烃以4-6环为主。多环芳烃在玉米根茎叶富集系数大小排序为：叶 > 茎 > 根。玉米不同组织中PAHs浓度与相应农田土壤中PAHs浓度的进行相关分析结果表明,农田土壤中PAHs含量与玉米根、茎中PAHs含量均存在极显著正相关关系,相关系数分别为0.98（P<0.01）、0.98（P<0.01）,表明玉米根和茎的多环芳烃主要来源于农田土壤中,农田土壤中PAHs的含量影响着PAHs在玉米根茎中的积累和分布。玉米叶中PAHs含量与农田土壤中PAHs含量与玉米根、茎中PAHs含量不存在相关关系,表明玉米叶中多环芳烃并非来自土壤中PAHs的迁移,可能来源于大气。内梅罗指数结果表明,农田土壤PAHs达到了中度污染,其中BaA、Pyr和BbF达到了偏重污染;健康风险评价结果表明,农田土壤PAHs对儿童和成人的平均非致癌风险分别为0.44和0.12（均小于1）,表明农田土壤多环芳烃对成人和儿童的非致癌风险是可接受;农田土壤PAHs对儿童和成人的平均致癌风险分别为3.6×10^-5、9.0×10^-6,没有超过致癌风险水平上限（10^-4）,致癌风险尚在可接受范围内。3种暴露途径中,皮肤接触是土壤PAHs的最主要暴露方式,其次是经口摄食,吸入暴露途径甚微,可忽略不计。PAHs对儿童健康的威胁风险要大于成人,所以应尽可能避免儿童直接接触或误食土壤等其他介质的污染物。     

高环多环芳烃降解菌的筛选及其降解特性

通过富集培养及平板升华法从本溪钢铁公司周边多环芳烃(PAHs)污染土壤中分离出7株PAHs降解菌。以芘和苯并[a]芘为底物进行摇瓶降解实验,结果表明:G1、G2和G3菌株对高环PAHs芘和苯并[a]芘均具有较强的降解能力。进一步研究此3株菌及混合菌对原状污染土壤中PAHs的降解能力,发现80 d时对总PAHs的降解顺序依次为:混合菌G2G1G3,其中混合菌对PAHs降解率较单菌分别提高了9.17%、11.49%和16.11%;4个处理对4~6环PAHs的降解率较对照组相比提高的倍数随着环数增加而增大;总PAHs的降解率与脱氢酶的活性呈正相关。电场影响G1、G2和G3菌株对PAHs降解,在1.0 V·cm~(-1)电场条件下,4环、5环及6环PAHs降解率较单纯微生物修复提高12.13%、13.35%和14.52%,说明3株菌具有较强的电场适应能力,可在高环PAHs污染土壤的电动-微生物修复中应用。形态学观察及16S rRNA序列比对分析表明,G1、G2、G3菌株分别为鞘氨醇单胞菌属(Sphingomonas sp.)、苍白杆菌属(Ochrobactrum sp.)和无色杆菌属(Achromobacter sp.)。     

土壤中多环芳烃的微生物降解及土壤细菌种群多样性

利用室内模拟方法,研究中、低浓度多环芳烃(PAHs)污染土壤的微生物修复效果,阐明土壤微生物（接种和土著）与PAHs降解的关系.结果表明:投加PAHs高效降解菌可以促进土壤中PAHs的降解,2周内效果显著;典型PAHs降解的难易程度依据为：菲<蒽<芘<苯并(a)芘和屈;细菌种群丰度和多样性均与PAHs降解呈负相关关系,同一处理细菌种群结构随时间变化不大.对于中、低浓度PAHs原位污染土壤,增强土著菌的活性是提高土壤PAHs降解率的有效途径之一.     

某大型化工场地土壤中多环芳烃(PAHs)污染现状与风险评价

以东北某大型化工场地为研究区域,采集了18个剖面点,4个土层,共计95个土壤样品;使用GC/MS检测了16种PAHs。本研究主要分析PAHs在该场地浅层(0～3 m)土壤的分布特征及在土壤剖面中的垂直分布特征,采用终生致癌风险进行了健康风险评价。结果表明:浅层土壤∑PAHs范围为0.13～553.5 mg·kg~(-1),均值67.0 mg·kg~(-1),化学品公司和热电厂周围土壤样点中PAHs含量相对较高; 0～3、4～7 m土壤层中PAHs以中环4环为主,8～11 m土壤层PAHs以低环2～3环为主。场地中未受扰动的土壤样品PAHs浓度随土壤深度增加而减小,受扰动的样点在深度大于16 m仍有较高浓度的PAHs。根据我国《土壤环境质量建设用地土壤污染风险管控标准》,BaP浓度超出一类建设用地筛选值60.6倍。健康风险评估显示,场地ILCRs值为9.6×10~(-11)～7.2×10~(-5),具有潜在致癌风险。     

紫松果菊对多环芳烃重污染土壤修复效能

采用盆栽试验,以实际油田污染土与自然土和沙土按照一定比例配置两种污染浓度的土壤(PAHs总浓度分别为122.40和183.60 mg·kg-1),以株高、生物量变化以及芘(Pyr)、屈(CHR)、苯并b荧蒽(Bb F)、苯并k荧蒽(Bk F)4种多环芳烃去除率为指标,研究了紫松果菊对PAHs污染土壤的修复效能。结果表明:(1)4种多环芳烃污染土壤对紫松果菊株高和生物量有明显抑制作用,在PAHs总浓度为183.60 mg·kg-1时,紫松果菊仍能存活,说明紫松果菊对PAHs污染土壤具有较强的耐性。(2)在PAHs总浓度为183.60mg·kg-1时,紫松果菊对土壤中4种PAHs的去除率分别为66.2%、70.3%、40.6%和65.4%,4种PAHs的总量由183.60 mg·kg-1降到104.52 mg·kg-1,总去除率为56.93%,远大于对照组中PAHs总去除率。说明紫松果菊具有修复PAHs重污染土壤的潜能。相关性分析发现,PAHs的去除率与地下生物量的相关性更好,说明植物地下生物量对多环芳烃去除率影响较大。本研究拓展了利用植物修复PAHs污染土壤的应用范围,使重污染土壤的植物修复成为可能。     

西沙永兴岛土壤中多环芳烃的分布特征及来源

通过采集西沙永兴岛表层土壤和土柱样品, 研究了21种多环芳烃(PAHs)在永兴岛土壤中的浓度和组成特征, 对土壤中PAHs的来源进行解析,并对生态风险进行了评估。结果表明, 永兴岛表层土壤中PAHs的浓度范围为38.9—176.4 ng·g-1, 16种优控PAHs的浓度为36.7—155.6 ng·g-1, 跟其它类似环境相比, 永兴岛土壤中PAHs污染相对较轻。芘、荧蒽、菲、苯并[b]荧蒽、、苯并[a]芘、茚并[1, 2, 3-cd]芘和苯并[e]芘是永兴岛表层土壤中最主要的PAHs。永兴岛土柱中总PAHs与2—3环PAHs浓度分布特征相似, 表层和底层浓度较高, 2—3环PAHs在土柱中占比为74%—96%。来源解析表明永兴岛土壤中PAHs主要以石油、木材或煤等燃烧源为主。16种PAHs的等效致癌风险浓度显示永兴岛土壤中PAHs生态风险较低。     

四种绿化树种土壤酶活性对不同浓度多环芳烃的响应

多环芳烃(PAHs)是一类广泛存在于环境中的有机污染物, 由于其致癌性和致突变性而受到广泛关注.采用盆栽实验,在3种多环芳烃污染水平(重度L3 )、(中度L2)、(轻度L1)下,研究了樟树(Cinnamomum camphora)、广玉兰(Magnolia grandiflora)、栾树(Koelreuteria bipinnata)、马褂木(Liriodendron chinense)南方4种绿化树种的土壤酶活性在6个月后的响应差异.结果表明:在不同PAHs污染水平下,磷酸酶活性表现为L2＞L3＞ L1;多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶的趋势一致,表现为L3＞L1＞ L2.土壤酶活性在4个树种间有明显差异,在L1污染水平下,各土壤酶活性表现为马褂木＞广玉兰＞樟树＞栾树;在L2污染水平下,各土壤酶活性表现为栾树＞马褂木＞樟树＞广玉兰;而在L3污染水平下,表现为马褂木＞樟树＞广玉兰＞栾树.不同PAHs水平下的多酚氧化酶活性呈极显著差异(P＜0.01),过氧化氢酶活性呈显著差异(P＜0.05),而磷酸酶活性变化率受污染物浓度影响不显著.此外,土壤酶活性与微生物相关性不显著.土壤过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶可以作为土壤污染程度的评价指标.     

Degradation of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Rhizosphere of Festuca arundinacea and Associated Microbial Community Changes

A phytoremediation growth chamber study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of soil microbial diversity to the contaminant degradation. Target contaminant removal from soil was assessed by monitoring concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), along with changes in the bacterial community structure over a time period of 10 months in the presence of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea). Enhanced degradation of PAHs was observed in rhizosphere soil, with a maximum reduction in pyrene at a rate 36% higher than that noted for the unvegetated control. The dissipation of < 4-ring PAHs, 4-ring PAHs, and > 4-ring PAHs in unvegetated soil was 70%, 54%, and 49% respectively, whereas a higher dissipation rate was observed in tall fescue treated soil of 78%, 68%, and 61% at the end of the study. Microbial enumeration results showed greater total bacterial numbers and PAH-degrading bacteria in rhizosphere soil when compared to unvegetated soil. The results from the terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis indicated that there was a shift in the rhizosphere bacterial community during the phytoremediation process.     

Nutrient-limited biodegradation of PAH in various soil strata at a creosote contaminated site

The effects of nutrient addition on the in situ biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in creosote contaminated soil were studied in soil columns taken from various soil strata at a wood preserving plant in Norway. Three samples were used: one from the topsoil (0–0.5 m), one from an organic rich layer (2–2.5 m) and one from the sandy aquifer (4.5–5 m). The addition of inorganic nitrogen and phosphorous stimulated the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the top soil and the aquifer sand. These two soils, which differed strongly in contamination levels, responded similarly to nutrient addition with the corresponding degradation of 4-ring PAHs. The ratio between available nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) might explain the degree of degradation observed for the 4-ring PAHs. However, the degree of degradation of 3-ring PAHs did not significantly increase after nutrient addition. An increase in the respiration rate, after nutrient addition, could only be observed in the topsoil. In the aquifer sand, 4-ring PAH degradation was not accompanied by an increase in the respiration rate or the number of heterotrophic micro-organisms. PAH degradation in the organic layer did not respond to nutrient addition. This was probably due to the low availability of the contaminants for micro-organisms, as a result of sorption to the soil organic matter. Our data illustrate the need for a better understanding of the role of nutrients in the degradation of high molecular weight hydrocarbons for the successful application of bioremediation at PAH contaminated sites.     

Microbial degradation of street dust polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in microcosms simulating diffuse pollution of urban soil

Diffuse pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of topsoil in urban regions has caused increasing concerns in recent years. We simulated diffuse pollution of soil in microcosms by spiking sandy topsoil (A-horizon) and coarse, mineral subsoil (C-horizon) with street dust (PM63) isolated from municipal street sweepings from central Copenhagen. The microbial communities adapted to PAH degradation in microcosms spiked with street dust in both A-horizon and C-horizon soils, in spite of low PAH-concentrations. The increased potential for PAH degradation was demonstrated on several levels: by slowly diminishing PAH-concentrations, increased mineralization of 14C-PAHs, increasing numbers of PAH degraders and increased prevalence of nah and pdo1 PAH degradation genes, i.e. the microbial communities quickly adapted to PAH degradation. Three- and 4-ring PAHs from the street dust were biodegraded to some extent (10-20%), but 5- and 6-ring PAHs were not biodegraded in spite of frequent soil mixing and high PAH degradation potentials. In addition to biodegradation, leaching of 2-, 3- and 4-ring PAHs from the A-horizon to the C-horizon seems to reduce PAH-levels in surface soil. Over time, levels of 2-, 3- and 4-ring PAHs in surface soil may reach equilibrium between input and the combination of biodegradation and leaching. However, levels of the environmentally critical 5- and 6-ring PAHs will probably continue to rise. We presume that sorption to black carbon particles is responsible for the persistence and low bioaccessibility of 5- and 6-ring PAHs in diffusely polluted soil.     

Accumulation,Allocation, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Soil-Brassica chinensis System

Farmland soil and leafy vegetables accumulate more polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in suburban sites. In this study, 13 sampling areas were selected from vegetable fields in the outskirts of Xi’an, the largest city in northwestern China. The similarity of PAH composition in soil and vegetation was investigated through principal components analysis and redundancy analysis (RDA), rather than discrimination of PAH congeners from various sources. The toxic equivalent quantity of PAHs in soil ranged from 7 to 202 μg/kg d.w., with an average of 41 μg/kg d.w., which exceeded the agricultural/horticultural soil acceptance criteria for New Zealand. However, the cancer risk level posed by combined direct ingestion, dermal contact, inhalation of soil particles, and inhalation of surface soil vapor met the rigorous international criteria (1×10⁻⁶). The concentration of total PAHs was (1052±73) μg/kg d.w. in vegetation (mean±standard error). The cancer risks posed by ingestion of vegetation ranged from 2×10⁻⁵ to 2×10⁻⁴ with an average of 1.66×10⁻⁴, which was higher than international excess lifetime risk limits for carcinogens (1×10⁻⁴). The geochemical indices indicated that the PAHs in soil and vegetables were mainly from vehicle and crude oil combustion. Both the total PAHs in vegetation and bioconcentration factor for total PAHs (the ratio of total PAHs in vegetation to total PAHs in soil) increased with increasing pH as well as decreasing sand in soil. The total variation in distribution of PAHs in vegetation explained by those in soil reached 98% in RDA, which was statistically significant based on Monte Carlo permutation. Common pollution source and notable effects of soil contamination on vegetation would result in highly similar distribution of PAHs in soil and vegetation.     

添加剂对水稻秸秆实地混合厌氧发酵产甲烷系统的作用

为提高水稻秸秆利用效率,改进水稻秸秆实地混合厌氧发酵产甲烷技术,本研究开展了添加剂在混合厌氧发酵系统的应用研究。试验选取水稻秸秆和猪粪作为发酵原料,通过分别添加不同的浓度的吐温20和腐植酸,测定甲烷的产气量和浓度、秸秆的降解和土壤肥力的变化,以揭示添加剂类型及其浓度对水稻田实地甲烷生产系统的影响。结果表明:添加剂的掺入并未影响产气的动态变化趋势,但显著地促进产气和提高产气浓度,整体效果由高到低为腐植酸吐温20对照,其中经腐植酸处理的产气量和产气浓度对照相比分别提高了50. 73%和24. 55%。添加剂的掺入有利于水稻秸秆纤维素和半纤维素的降解,但对木质素没有显著影响;其中以0. 15 g/L腐植酸和0. 30 g/L吐温20的降解率最高,相较于对照其纤维素降解率均提高了22. 11%,半纤维素降解率分别提高了107. 13%和98. 39%。添加剂的掺入能显著增加土壤肥力,以0. 15 g/L腐植酸和0. 30 g/L吐温20处理水平的效果最优,相较于对照,其土壤有机质分别增加了29. 63%和23. 72%,全氮分别增加了52. 32%和42. 38%,全磷分别增加了83. 33%和57. 14%。     

Bioremediation of PAH-contaminated soil with fungi – From laboratory to field scale

The purpose of this study was to develop a fungal bioremediation method that could be used for soils heavily contaminated with persistent organic compounds, such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Sawmill soil, contaminated with PAHs, was mixed with composted green waste (1:1) and incubated with or without fungal inoculum. The treatments were performed at the laboratory and field scales. In the laboratory scale treatment (starting concentration 3500 mg kg⁻¹, sum of 16 PAH) the high molecular weight PAHs were degraded significantly more in the fungal-inoculated microcosms than in the uninoculated ones. In the microcosms inoculated with Phanerochaete velutina, 96% of 4-ring PAHs and 39% of 5- and 6-ring PAHs were removed in three months. In the uninoculated microcosms, 55% of 4-ring PAHs and only 7% of 5- and 6-ring PAHs were degraded. However, during the field scale (2 t) experiment at lower starting concentration (1400 mg kg⁻¹, sum of 16 PAH) the % degradation was similar in both the P. velutina-inoculated and the uninoculated treatments: 94% of the 16 PAHs were degraded in three months. In the field scale experiment the copy number of gram-positive bacteria PAH-ring hydroxylating dioxygenase genes was found to increase 1000 fold, indicating that bacterial PAH degradation also played an important role.     

Chemical-assisted phytoremediation of CD-PAHs contaminated soils using Solanum nigrum L

A well-characterized cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulating plant Solanum nigrum was grown in Cd and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) co-contaminated soil that was repeatedly amended with chemicals, including EDTA, cysteine (CY), salicylic acid (Sa), and Tween 80 (TW80), to test individual and combined treatment effects on phytoremediation of Cd-PAHs contaminated soils. Plant growth was negatively affected by exogenous chemicals except for EDTA. S. nigrum could accumulate Cd in tissues without assistant chemicals, while there was no visible effect on the degradation of PAHs. Cysteine had significant effects on phytoextraction of Cd and the highest metal extraction ratio (1.27%) was observed in 0.9 mmol/kg CY treatment. Both salicylic acid and Tween 80 had stimulative effects on the degradation of PAHs and there was the maximal degradation rate (52.6%) of total PAHs while 0.9 mmol/kg Sa was applied. Furthermore, the combined treatment T(0.1EDTA+0.9CY+0.5TW80) and T(0.5EDTA+0.9CY+03Sa) could not only increase the accumulation of Cd in plant tissues, but also promote the degradation of PAHs. These results indicated that S. nigrum might be effective in phytoextracting Cd and enhancing the biodegradation of PAHs in the co-contaminated soils with assistant chemicals.     

An Integrated Case Study for Evaluating the Impacts of an Oil Refinery Effluent on Aquatic Biota in the Delaware River: Advanced Chemical Fingerprinting of PAHs

More than one thousand samples were collected and analyzed to evaluate the potential impact of Motiva's oil refinery effluent on the receiving water, sediment, and biota of the Delaware River. The data collected from these samples were used with advanced chemical fingerprinting of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Motiva's oil refinery effluent to differentiate Motiva-related PAHs in sediment and biota from other sources. The PAHs released from the refinery between 1999 and 2002 were dominated by petrogenic 4-ring PAHs. Specifically, the refinery signature exhibited relatively high levels of fluoranthenes/pyrenes with two (FP2) and three (FP3) alkyl groups and benz(a)anthracene/chrysenes with two (BC2), three (BC3), and four (BC4) alkyl groups. This PAH signature, attributed to accelerated degradation of low molecular weight PAHs in the Motiva wastewater treatment plant, exhibited little variability over time relative to the background patterns in the Delaware River. This distinctive feature of the Motiva effluent allowed the identification of this source in other samples. Water and sediment samples identified a range of PAH characteristics associated with the Delaware River urban background signature. These characteristics included varying levels of 2- to 3-ring PAHs (likely from weathered automotive fuel, marine fuel, or bilge tank discharges), pyrogenic 4- to 6-ring PAHs (from partially combusted organic material like soot), and perylene (diagenetic product of terrestrial plant decomposition). The Motiva hydrocarbon signature was only evident at moderate to low levels in selected near-field sampling stations for sediment, bivalves, and effluent/nearfield water. PAHs in the river sediments beyond the near-field area were consistently associated with samples containing the Delaware River urban background signature, and exhibited little to no effect from the Refinery.     

Effect of Exposure Time,Contamination Level,and Type of PAH Compound on Biodegradation Capacity of Mangrove Sediment

Mangrove sediment had high natural attenuation potential with more than 50% of total PAHs being removed within 15 days. The efficiency in degrading PAHs varied with the declining order of phenanthrene (Phe), fluoranthene (Fla), and pyrene (Pyr). The Most Probable Number (MPN) of PAH-degrading bacteria in the PAH-contaminated slurries was 2 to 4 orders of magnitude higher than that in the non-contaminated mangrove slurries. The biodegradation ability of the indigenous microbial community in mangrove sediment slurry was significantly increased after exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Such enhancement effect was dependent on the level and time of exposure, as well as the types of PAH compounds. The lowest contamination level of 3 mg kg^?1 was effective in promoting the degradation of Phe and Fla after seven days, but the enhancement effect for Pyr degradation was only found in the slurries exposed to contamination levels of 9 mg kg^?1 for 30 days, suggesting a threshold concentration of PAHs to stimulate growth and activity of pyrene-degrading bacteria. The contamination level higher than the threshold concentration did not lead to more degradation. The present study provides insights into the natural attenuation of PAH-contaminated mangrove sediments.     

Bacteria from wheat and cucurbit plant roots metabolize PAHs and aromatic root exudates: Implications for rhizodegradation

The chemical interaction between plants and bacteria in the root zone can lead to soil decontamination. Bacteria that degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been isolated from the rhizospheres of plant species with varied biological traits; however, it is not known what phytochemicals promote contaminant degradation. One monocot and two dicotyledon plants were grown in PAH-contaminated soil from a manufactured gas plant (MGP) site. A phytotoxicity assay confirmed greater soil decontamination in rhizospheres when compared to bulk soil controls. Bacteria were isolated from plant roots (rhizobacteria) and selected for growth on anthracene and chrysene on PAH-amended plates. Rhizosphere isolates metabolized 3- and 4-ring PAHs and PAH catabolic intermediates in liquid incubations. Aromatic root exudate compounds, namely flavonoids and simple phenols, were also substrates for isolated rhizobacteria. In particular, the phenolic compounds—morin, caffeic acid, and protocatechuic acid—appear to be linked to bacterial degradation of 3- and 4-ring PAHs in the rhizosphere.