Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by soil fungi

Thirteen deuteromycete ligninolytic fungal strains were grown in media containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), for 6 and 10 days. The PAHs were added directly with the inocula or on the third day of cultivation. A selection of the best strains was carried out based on the levels of degradation of the PAHs and also on the ligninolytic activities produced by the fungi. The selected strains were cultivated for 3,6,9,12 and 15 days in the PAHs-containing media. Degradation of PAHs, as measured by reversed-phase HPLSC on a C18 column, varied with each strain as did the ligninolytic enzymes present in the culture supernatants. Highest degradation of naphthalene 69 (per cent) was produced by the strain 984, having Mn-peroxidase activity, followed by strain 870 17 per cente showing lignin peroxidase and laccase activities. The greatest degradation of phenanthrene 12 (per cent) was observed with strain 870 containing Mn-peroxidase and laccase activities. When anthracene was used, the strain 710 produced a good level of degradation 65 per cente.

Circulación del benzo (a) pireno en las aguas del litoral habanero / Benzo (a) pyrene circulation in Havana's coastal water

Con el fin de determinar la dirección de la circulación de hidrocarburos policíclicos aromáticos (HPA) en nuestras aguas y su posible implicación de un riesgo al ser humano, se realizó un monitoreo de las aguas, sedimentos y algunos organismos bentónicos en dos zonas del litoral habanero (de alta y baja contaminación) para determinar sus niveles de benzo(a) pirenos(BP). Se encontraron niveles de 10 a100 veces más elevados en las aguas del fondo y en los sedimentos, así como en los moluscos, esponjas y gorgonáceas, con respecto a las aguas superficiales, indicando esa dirección en la circulación de los HPA y un posible riesgo carcinogénico para el hombre a través de la cadena alimentaria

Physico-chemical Nature and Mutagenic Activity of Ambient Dust in Seoul

This study deals with the serious pollution of Seoul's ambient air and extends a warning regarding its adverse effects on human health. The collected dust samples exceeded the legal standard (15O microgram/m3 of total suspended particulates) of ambient air quality. Fine particles, with an aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 micrometer comprised on the average 75.4 percent of the total suspended particulates (TSP). The amount of ether extractable organic matter (EEOM) of the fine particles was found to range from 3.6 to 7.1 percent. Neutral, acidic and basic organics were fractionated. In the neutral fraction, aliphatic compounds (ALP), polyaromatic hydrocarbons0 (PAH), and polar neutral organic compounds (POCN) comprised 23.1, 37.8 and 39.1 percent, respectively. Mutagenic activities of the organic fractions were determined by Ames bioassay. PAH showed the most mutagenicity using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 strain and TA98NR(nitro-reductase activity deficient stain) in the presence of S-9 fractions.