Distribution of microorganisms in the oil-polluted ground of vadose and saturation zones

The ground polluted with oil products was analyzed at a depth of 0.5–7.8 m (loamy soil), 11.5–13.0 m (gravelstone), 13.0–15.0 m (siltstone). It was shown that the distribution of oil products and microorganisms in the ground over the profile depends on the hydrogeological properties of the rock (porosity, hydraulic conductivity). The number of aerobic heterotrophic microorganisms varied from 10⁶–10⁷ CFU/g, the fraction of hydrocarbon-oxidizing ones increased with depth from 30 to 85%. The number of anaerobic microorganisms was comparable to the number of aerobic ones. The number of psychrotrophs and psychrophiles increases with depth; in the lower horizon these organisms prevail over the number of mesophiles.