The role of microorganisms in dispersion of thallium compounds in the environment.
Thallium is a highly toxic element and very rarely studied in the context of environmental hazards connected with zinc and non-ferrous metal industry. Microorganisms naturally existing in post-flotation and smelt wastes can participate in thallium release from waste deposits and can contribute to its dispersion in the environment. Twenty-one isolates were obtained from wastes of a non-ferrous smelter in Southern Poland characterised by high heavy metal contamination. Ten isolates showed high activity in thallium leaching from wastes (post-flotation and smelt wastes) as well as from pure thallous sulphide. Additionally, cadmium and lead were bioleached from wastes. The isolated bacteria indicated thallium resistance at a concentration up to 100 mg/l and some of them were able to survive in good condition at a concentration of up to 4 g/l. The same bacteria were isolated from rivers and wastewater in this region. A preliminary characterisation of isolates was performed. It was shown that some petroleum products i.e. asphalt-base crude occasionally used for waste immobilisation at the edge of pond or flotation surfactants partially stopped the activity of sulphide oxidising bacteria.
Skłodowska
Aleksandra
A
Warsaw University, Faculty of Biology, Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Analysis, CEMERA-European Centre of Excellence, Miecznikowa 1, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland. asklodowska@biol.uw.edu.pl
Matlakowska
Renata
R
D003470:Culture Media; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D045483:Rivers / Q000382:microbiology*; D013793:Thallium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
D003470:Culture Media; D007220:Industrial Waste; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D013793:Thallium