title: Microbial degradation of the organophosphate pesticide, Ethion.
abstract: The organophosphate pesticide, Ethion, remains a major environmental contaminant in rural Australia and poses a significant threat to environmental and public health. The aerobic degradation of Ethion by mesophilic bacteria isolated from contaminated soils surrounding disused cattle dip sites was investigated. Two isolates, identified as Pseudomonas and Azospirillum species, were capable of biodegrading Ethion when cultivated in minimal salts medium. The abiotic hydrolytic degradation products of Ethion such as Ethion Dioxon and O,O-diethylthiosphosphate were not detected. The data suggest the rapid degradation of Ethion to support microbial growth. The results have implications for the development of a bioremediation strategy.
authors.affiliation: Bio/polymers Research Group, Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design, School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia. J.Foster@unsw.edu.au
authors.forename: L John R
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.forename: Bia H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Kwan
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vancov
mesh_terms: D016949:Azospirillum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D007306:Insecticides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011549:Pseudomonas / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000378:metabolism*; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D007306:Insecticides; D009946:Organothiophosphorus Compounds; D012989:Soil Pollutants; C100038:ethion