Wr. Cullen et al., DEGRADATION OF PHENANTHRENE AND PYRENE BY MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM MARINE SEDIMENT AND SEAWATER, Science of the total environment, 156(1), 1994, pp. 27-37
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.