In-situ mineralization of chlorinated phenols by pelagic bacteria in lakes of differing humic content

Summary, in English

The microbial mineralization of phenol and three chlorinated phenols (3,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) in the water column of 23 pristine, oligotrophic lakes of different humic content was investigated. During short-term (approximately 2 d) in situ incubations of water samples amended with C-14-labeled phenolic compounds, the fraction of the added pollutant mineralized to (CO2)-C-14 was positively correlated with water color (an estimate of humic content) and the total organic carbon concentration of the water. The rate of mineralization per bacterial cell was not correlated with humic content, due to increased bacterial abundance with increasing humic content. Hence, the higher mineralization rate in humic lakes than in clear-water lakes was probably a result of higher bacterial abundance rather than being an effect of bacterial cells having a higher potential for the degradation of such compounds.

• Author: Lars Tranvik; Per Larsson; Lennart Okla; Olof Regnell
• Department/s: Department of Biology; Division aquatic ecology
• Publishing year: 1991
• Language: English
• Pages: 195-200
• Publication/Series: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
• Volume: 10
• Issue: 2
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1897/1552-8618(1991)10[195:ISMOCP]2.0.CO;2
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons Inc.
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Status: Published
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 0730-7268