Effect of adaptation to phenol on biodegradation of monosubstituted phenols by aquatic microbial communities.
The adaptation of a mixed aquatic microbial community to phenol was examined in microcosms receiving phenol as a sole carbon source. Extended exposure (adaptation) to phenol resulted in adaptation of the microbial community to the structurally related aromatic compounds m-cresol, m-aminophenol, and p-chlorophenol. The increased biodegradation potential of the phenol-adapted microbial community was accompanied by a concurrent increase in the number of microorganisms able to degrade the three test compounds. Thus, adaptation to the three test chemicals was likely a growth-related result of extended exposure to phenol. The results indicate that adaptation to a single chemical may increase the assimilative capacity of an aquatic environment for other related chemicals even in the absence of adaptation-inducing levels of those materials.
Shimp
R J
RJ
Environmental Safety Department, Procter and Gamble Company, Cincinnati, Ohio 45217.
Pfaender
F K
FK
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000627:Aminophenols / Q000378:metabolism; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D002733:Chlorophenols / Q000378:metabolism; D003408:Cresols / Q000378:metabolism; D007700:Kinetics; D019800:Phenol; D010636:Phenols / Q000378:metabolism*; D014871:Water Microbiology
D000627:Aminophenols; D002733:Chlorophenols; D003408:Cresols; D010636:Phenols; D019800:Phenol; C029107:4-chlorophenol; C042041:3-cresol