Bacillus subtilis is a Potential Degrader of Pyrene and Benzo[a]pyrene

Rochelle D. Hunter, Stephen I. N. Ekunwe, Daniel E. Dodor, Huey-Min Hwang and Lynette Ekunwe
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Rochelle D. Hunter: Microbial Molecular Genetics, Cancer and Phytonutriceuticals Research Laboratory
Stephen I. N. Ekunwe: Microbial Molecular Genetics, Cancer and Phytonutriceuticals Research Laboratory
Daniel E. Dodor: NIH–Center for Environmental Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
Huey-Min Hwang: NIH–Center for Environmental Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson, Mississippi, USA
Lynette Ekunwe: NIH–Center for Environmental Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson, Mississippi, USA

IJERPH, 2005, vol. 2, issue 2, 1-5

Abstract: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a group of compounds that pose many health threats to human and animal life. They occur in nature as a result of incomplete combustion of organic matter, as well as from many anthropogenic sources including cigarette smoke and automobile exhaust. PAHs have been reported to cause liver damage, red blood cell damage and a variety of cancers. Because of this, methods to reduce the amount of PAHs in the environment are continuously being sought. The purpose of this study was to find soil bacteria capable of degrading high molecular weight PAHs, such as pyrene (Pyr) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), which contain more than three benzene rings and so persist in the environment. Bacillus subtilis , identified by fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis, was isolated from PAH contaminated soil. Because it grew in the presence of 33?g/ml each of pyrene, 1-AP and 1-HP, its biodegradation capabilities were assessed. It was found that after a four-day incubation period at 30oC in 20?g/ml pyrene or benzo[a]pyrene, B. subtilis was able to transform approximately 40% and 50% pyrene and benzo[a]pyrene, respectively. This is the first report implicating B. subtilis in PAH degradation. Whether or not the intermediates resulting from the transformation are more toxic than their parent compounds, and whether B. subtilis is capable of mineralizing pyrene or benzo[a]pyrene to carbon dioxide and water, remains to be evaluated.

Keywords: Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; bioremediation; Bacillus subtilis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2005
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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