DEGRADATION OF PHENANTHRENE AND PYRENE BY MICROORGANISMS ISOLATED FROM MARINE SEDIMENT AND SEAWATER

Microorganisms which are able to degrade phenanthrene and pyrene were isolated from both seawater and sediment samples collected from a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) polluted environment, Kitimat Arm, British Columbia, Canada. Four strains from a seawater culture were isolated and examined. No additional PAH induction was necessary in the enrichment process, indicating that these PAH degrading microorganisms are previously exposed to PAHs in the environment under study. Microorganisms enriched with phenanthrene as the sole carbon and energy source also degraded pyrene readily. A metabolite, pyrene cis-4,5-dihydrodiol was observed from pyrene degradation, and this metabolite was further degraded after pyrene was utilized by the microorganisms.