Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Impact of treated sewage on meiobenthic nematodes: a case study from the Tunisian Refining Industries Company
A Hedfi1,2, M Ben Ali1,2, A Noureldeen1,3
1Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia.
Abstract:
The main objective of the current study was to assess the impact of the water taken from the 'Tunisian Refining Industries Company' on meiobenthic nematodes, before and after a series of treatments in decantation basins followed by its discharge in Bizerte bay, Tunisia. The comparison of environmental parameters of the two types of water was clearly indicative of an improvement in the quality of treated waters after a significant reduction in their loads in hydrocarbons. Overall, the water retained a good quality after being treated by 'Tunisian Refining Industries Company' before discharge in the sea. At the end of the experiment, differential responses were observed according to the richness of sediment in organic matter and hydrocarbons. Thus, it was apparent that the nematode assemblage exposed to the treated waters was closer to controls and associated to higher values of abundance, than that under untreated ones. It was also assumed that the species Microlaimus honestus De Man, 1922, Paramonohystera proteus Wieser, 1956 and Cyartonema germanicum Juario, 1972 are sensitive bioindicators of bad environmental statues and of hydrocarbon presence in the environment. On the other hand, Metoncholaimus pristiurus (Zur Strassen, 1894) Filipjev, 1918 would rather be classified as a positive bioindicative species of this type of pollutants.
Related Concept Videos
Bioremediation
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Biological Treatment of Effluent and Waste Water
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

