Response of soil catalase activity to chromium contamination.
The impact of chromium(III) and (VI) forms on soil catalase activity was presented. The Orthic Podzol, Haplic Phaeozem and Mollic Gleysol from different depths were used in the experiment. The soil samples were amended with solution of Cr(III) using CrCl3, and with Cr(VI) using K2Cr2O7 in the concentration range from 0 to 20 mg/kg, whereas the samples without the addition of chromium served as control. Catalase activity was assayed by one of the commonly used spectrophotometric methods. As it was demonstrated in the experiment, both Cr(III) and Cr(VI) have an ability to reduce soil catalase activity. A chromium dosage of 20 mg/kg caused the inhibition of catalase activity and the corresponding contamination levels ranged from 75% to 92% for Cr(III) and 68% to 76% for Cr(VI), with relation to the control. Catalase activity reached maximum in the soil material from surface layers (0-25 cm), typically characterized by the highest content of organic matter creating favorable conditions for microorganisms.
Department of Biochemistry and Environmental Chemistry, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Al. Kraśnicka 102, 20-718 Lublin, Poland. stepz@kul.lublin.pl
Zofia
Z
Stepniewska
Agnieszka
A
Wolińska
Joanna
J
Ziomek
D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism*; D002857:Chromium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004789:Enzyme Activation / Q000187:drug effects; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*
D012989:Soil Pollutants; D002857:Chromium; D002374:Catalase