Ecological fate, effects and prospects for the elimination of environmental polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)

Abstract

Polychloiinated biphenyls (PCBs) present an environmental health hazard of global scale and man-made origin. Their impact on nearly every member of the biota results in a wide range of interacting negative effects. Due to their chemical nature, these recalcitrant toxicants are poised to enter and bioaccumulate in the food web. Recent advances in biodegradation research and molecular biology have shown that natural microorganisms and genetically modified bacterial strains could be used to decontaminate PCB-containing sites. The aim of this review is to summarize the chemistry, emironmental fate and toxicological effects of PCBs and to evaluate the currently available technologies for nondisruptive elimination of PCBs from the environment.

Aroclor 1254 affects growth and survival skills of Atlantic croaker Micropogonias undulatus larvae

“…It is estimated that 70% of the world's production of PCBs are still in use or in stock and therefore it is likely that PCB contamination will continue to pose an environmental threat (Sumpter et al 1997). Indeed, it is recognized that PCBs will remain in the environment over geological time (Hooper et al 1990). PCBs are globally distributed, and are found predominantly in sediments in the aquatic environment.…”

Influence of Chlorine Substituents on Rates of Oxidation of Chlorinated Biphenyls by the Biphenyl Dioxygenase of Burkholderia sp. Strain LB400

“…CBs and related chlorinated aromatic compounds, such as 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) and 2,4,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, are also suspected of interfering with reproduction and development of wildlife chronically exposed to contaminated water, sediment, and food (23,32,35). The high cost and public opposition to current physical remediation technologies have stimulated interest in the use of microorganisms for bioremediation of CB-contaminated sites (25,43,46). Since the demonstration that two strains of Achromobacter could degrade mono-and dichlorobiphenyls by Ahmed and Focht (1), numerous studies have shown that a broad diversity of bacteria have the ability to degrade many of the different CB congeners that contaminate the environment (3,16,24,39).…”

“…Since the demonstration that two strains of Achromobacter could degrade mono-and dichlorobiphenyls by Ahmed and Focht (1), numerous studies have shown that a broad diversity of bacteria have the ability to degrade many of the different CB congeners that contaminate the environment (3,16,24,39). While natural microbial degradation of CBs is constrained by a combination of physical, chemical, and biological factors (25), development of effective bioremediation strategies will be aided by an understanding of the biochemical mechanisms involved in the mineralization of CBs.…”

Cometabolic degradation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by axenic cultures of Ralstonia sp. strain SA-5 and Pseudomonas sp. strain SA-6 obtained from Nigerian contaminated soils

“…Their presence is a cause for great concern because they are suspected of having adverse effects on human and animal health. The high cost and public opposition to current physical and chemical remediation technologies have stimulated interest in the use of microorganisms for bioremediation of PCB-contaminated sites (Hooper et al 1990;Shannon et al 1994;Unterman et al 1998). Quite unfortunately, no effective bioremediation strategies have yet been developed for the restoration of sites contaminated with PCBs, but the progress made in recent years has been sufficiently encouraging to lead investigators to believe that bacterial strains with enhanced capacity to degrade these pollutants can be developed.…”