Bacteria that metabolize PCBs

2002/02/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Ingurumena

A bacterium capable of breaking the relationship between carbon and chlorine in PCBs has been identified. These molecules are very dangerous contaminants due to the abundance of chlorine atoms. Due to its large amount of lubricants, once widely used in the industry, but there are also dangerous contaminants, so about twenty years ago they were banned. Since then, ATSDR (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry) and EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) have been classified as the most dangerous compounds.

Newly discovered bacteria have the ability to destroy these compounds by releasing the chlorine atoms of the molecule. Therefore, these microbes can clean the sediments of the seabed. In fact, scientists discovered bacteria due to decreased chlorine levels in the sediments of the port of Baltimore. Therefore, in the belief that these bacteria are going to “eat” PCBs, new anti-pollution projects can be launched.