Microbial dehalogenation of organohalides in marine and estuarine environments
In: Current Opinion in Biotechnology. Elsevier: London. ISSN 0958-1669; e-ISSN 1879-0429, more
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| Keywords |
Marine/Coastal; Brackish water; Fresh water |
| Authors | | Top |
- Zanaroli, G.
- Negroni, A.
- Häggblom, M.M.
- Fava, F., more
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| Abstract |
Marine sediments are the ultimate sink and a major entry way into the food chain for many highly halogenated and strongly hydrophobic organic pollutants, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) and 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT). Microbial reductive dehalogenation in anaerobic sediments can transform these contaminants into less toxic and more easily biodegradable products. Although little is still known about the diversity of respiratory dehalogenating bacteria and their catabolic genes in marine habitats, the occurrence of dehalogenation under actual site conditions has been reported. This suggests that the activity of dehalogenating microbes may contribute, if properly stimulated, to the in situ bioremediation of marine and estuarine contaminated sediments.
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