The role of microorganisms in dispersion of thallium compounds in the environment

Thallium is a highly toxic element and very rarely studied in the context of environmental hazards connected with zinc and non-ferrous metal industry. Microorganisms naturally existing in post-flotation and smelt wastes can participate in thallium release from waste deposits and can contribute to its dispersion in the environment. Twenty-one isolates were obtained from wastes of a non-ferrous smelter in Southern Poland characterised by high heavy metal contamination. Ten isolates showed high activity in thallium leaching from wastes (post-flotation and smelt wastes) as well as from pure thallous sulphide. Additionally, cadmium and lead were bioleached from wastes. The isolated bacteria indicated thallium resistance at a concentration up to 100 mg/l and some of them were able to survive in good condition at a concentration of up to 4 g/l. The same bacteria were isolated from rivers and wastewater in this region. A preliminary characterisation of isolates was performed. It was shown that some petroleum products i.e. asphalt-base crude occasionally used for waste immobilisation at the edge of pond or flotation surfactants partially stopped the activity of sulphide oxidising bacteria.