DEGRADATION OF PHENANTHRENE AND PYRENE BY MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM MARINE SEDIMENT AND SEAWATER

Microorganisms which are able to degrade phenanthrene and pyrene were isolated from both seawater and sediment samples collected from a poly cyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) polluted environment, Kitimat Arm, B ritish Columbia, Canada. Four strains from a seawater culture were iso lated and examined. No additional PAH induction was necessary in the e nrichment process, indicating that these PAH degrading microorganisms are previously exposed to PAHs in the environment under study. Microor ganisms enriched with phenanthrene as the sole carbon and energy sourc e also degraded pyrene readily. A metabolite, pyrene cis-4,5-dihydrodi ol was observed from pyrene degradation, and this metabolite was furth er degraded after pyrene was utilized by the microorganisms.