Microbial transformation of 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP)
1990
Bloom, R.A. | Alexander, M.
A once widely used nematicide that is now banned, 1,2-dibromo-3-chloropropane (DBCP), persists in groundwaters and is a significant pollutant in some water supplies. A study was conducted to determine whether a means for the biodegradation of this persistent compound could be devised. DBCP was not converted to organic products, halide, or CO2 in unamended samples of soil subsoil material, or groundwaters in 60 d, and no microorganism could be isolated that was able to use the compound as a C source for growth. However, cell suspensions of Pseudomonas putida and of bacteria grown in solutions containing chlorinated fatty acids or 3-chloro-1-propanol cometabolized DBCP in the presence of O2 with the formation of halide but not CO2. Pseudomonas putida had the greatest activity. DBCP was also converted aerobically to organic products and CO2 by soil suspensions incubated with methane. The compound was also converted anaerobically to organic products but not CO2 in suspensions of soil, but no anaerobic transformation was observed in samples of groundwater or aquifer solids. We suggest that biological treatment may be used as a means to destroy this pollutant.
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