Note to users. If you're seeing this message, it means that your browser cannot find this page's style/presentation instructions -- or possibly that you are using a browser that does not support current Web standards. Find out more about why this message is appearing, and what you can do to make your experience of our site the best it can be.

Site Tools

  • AAAS
  • Subscribe
  • Feedback

Site Search

Search Advanced

Science 4 November 1988:
Vol. 242. no. 4879, pp. 752 - 754
DOI: 10.1126/science.242.4879.752
Prev | Table of Contents | Next

Articles

Reductive Dechlorination of Polychlorinated Biphenyls by Anaerobic Microorganisms from Sediments

JOHN F. QUENSEN III 1, JAMES M. TIEDJE 1, and STEPHEN A. BOYD 1

1 Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824.

Microorganisms from Hudson River sediments reductively dechlorinated most polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Aroclor 1242 under anaerobic conditions, thus demonstrating PCB dechlorination by anaerobic bacteria in the laboratory. The most rapid dechlorination was observed at the highest PCB concentration used; at 700 parts per million Aroclor, 53 percent of the total chlorine was removed in 16 weeks, and the proportion of mono- and dichlorobiphenyls increased from 9 to 88 percent. Dechlorination occurred primarily from the meta and para positions; congeners that were substituted only in the ortho position (or positions) accumulated. These dechlorination products are both less toxic and more readily degraded by aerobic bacteria. These results indicate that reductive dechlorination may be an important environmental fate of PCBs, and suggest that a sequential anaerobic-aerobic biological treatment system for PCBs may be feasible.

Submitted on May 31, 1988
Accepted on September 2, 1988


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Microbial Reductive Dechlorination of Aroclor 1260 in Baltimore Harbor Sediment Microcosms Is Catalyzed by Three Phylotypes within the Phylum Chloroflexi.
S. K. Fagervold, H. D. May, and K. R. Sowers (2007)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 73, 3009-3018
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Coping with Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) Toxicity: Physiological and Genome-Wide Responses of Burkholderia xenovorans LB400 to PCB-Mediated Stress.
J. J. Parnell, J. Park, V. Denef, T. Tsoi, S. Hashsham, J. Quensen III, and J. M. Tiedje (2006)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 72, 6607-6614
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Development and Characterization of Stable Sediment-Free Anaerobic Bacterial Enrichment Cultures That Dechlorinate Aroclor 1260.
D. L. Bedard, J. J. Bailey, B. L. Reiss, and G. V. S. Jerzak (2006)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 72, 2460-2470
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Degradation of Aroclor 1242 Dechlorination Products in Sediments by Burkholderia xenovorans LB400(ohb) and Rhodococcus sp. Strain RHA1(fcb).
J. L. M. Rodrigues, C. A. Kachel, M. R. Aiello, J. F. Quensen, O. V. Maltseva, T. V. Tsoi, and J. M. Tiedje (2006)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 72, 2476-2482
   Abstract »    Full Text »    PDF »
Anaerobic Dehalogenation of Hydroxylated Polychlorinated Biphenyls by Desulfitobacterium dehalogenans.
J. Wiegel, X. Zhang, and Q. Wu (1999)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 65, 2217-2221
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Comparison of Gas Chromatography and Mineralization Experiments for Measuring Loss of Selected Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners in Cultures of White Rot Fungi.
L. A. Beaudette, S. Davies, P. M. Fedorak, O. P. Ward, and M. A. Pickard (1998)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 64, 2020-2025
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Complete Reductive Dehalogenation of Brominated Biphenyls by Anaerobic Microorganisms in Sediment.
D. L. Bedard and H. M. Van Dort (1998)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 64, 940-947
   Abstract »    Full Text »
Microbial Reductive Dechlorination of Aroclor 1260 in Anaerobic Slurries of Estuarine Sediments.
Q. Wu, K. R. Sowers, and H. D. May (1998)
Appl. Envir. Microbiol. 64, 1052-1058
   Abstract »    Full Text »
In situ stimulation of aerobic PCB biodegradation in Hudson River sediments.
M. Harkness, J. McDermott, D. Abramowicz, J. Salvo, W. Flanagan, M. Stephens, F. Mondello, R. May, J. Lobos, K. Carroll, et al. (1993)
Science 259, 503-507
   Abstract »    PDF »
In situ biodegradation: microbiological patterns in a contaminated aquifer.
E. Madsen, J. Sinclair, and W. Ghiorse (1991)
Science 252, 830-833
   Abstract »    PDF »


To Advertise     Find Products

Science. ISSN 0036-8075 (print), 1095-9203 (online)