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A Whole Cell Bioreporter Approach to Assess Transport and Bioavailability of Organic Contaminants in Water Unsaturated Systems
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Microbial carriers promote and guide pyrene migration in sediments.
Youda Huang1, Bin Wang1, Yonggang Yang1
1Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbial Culture Collection and Application, State Key Laboratory of Applied Microbiology Southern China, Institute of Microbiology, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510070, China.
Journal of Hazardous Materials
|October 1, 2021
Summary
Cable bacteria, a type of motile microorganism, significantly enhance the downward migration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) like pyrene in sediments. This finding highlights their role in PAH transport and ecological risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Microbiology
- Geochemistry
- Biogeochemical Cycles
Background:
- Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants found in sediments.
- Microbial co-transport is a potential mechanism for PAH migration, but experimental evidence is limited.
- Cable bacteria, known for their motility, could facilitate PAH transport from sediment-water interfaces.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of cable bacteria in the migration of pyrene, a model PAH.
- To determine if cable bacteria enhance the downward transport of PAHs in suboxic sediment zones.
Main Methods:
- Experimental setup connecting or blocking cable bacteria pathways to suboxic zones.
- Quantification of pyrene migration using control and experimental groups.
- Analysis of microbial community composition and motility.
- Morphological evidence of particle adsorption by cable bacteria.
- Application of a biomechanical model (Peclet number) to assess pyrene adsorption by microorganisms.
Main Results:
- Downward pyrene migration was significantly higher (17.3-49.2%) in groups with connected cable bacteria pathways.
- Motile microorganisms, particularly cable bacteria, showed increased downward migration in connecting groups.
- Cable bacteria demonstrated significant adsorption of surrounding particles and stronger pyrene adsorption compared to other microbes.
Conclusions:
- Cable bacteria act as significant microbial carriers, enhancing the downward migration of PAHs in sediments.
- The motility and adsorption capabilities of cable bacteria influence PAH distribution and ecological risk.
- This study provides crucial insights into the role of motile microorganisms in PAH biogeochemistry.
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