title: Effects of petroleum contamination on soil microbial numbers, metabolic activity and urease activity.
abstract: The influence of petroleum contamination on soil microbial activities was investigated in 13 soil samples from sites around an injection water well (Iw-1, 2, 3, 4) (total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH): 7.5-78 mg kg(-1)), an oil production well (Op-1, 2, 3, 4, 5) (TPH: 149-1110 mg kg(-1)), and an oil spill accident well (Os-1, 2, 3, 4) (TPH: 4500-34600 mg kg(-1)). The growth rate constant (μ) of glucose stimulated organisms, determined by microcalorimetry, was higher in Iw soil samples than in Op and Os samples. Total cultivable bacteria and fungi and urease activity also decreased with increasing concentration of TPH. Total heat produced demonstrated that TPH at concentrations less than about 1 g kg(-1) soil stimulated anaerobic respiration. A positive correlation between TPH and soil organic matter (OM) and stimulation of fungi-bacteria-urease at low TPH doses suggested that TPH is bound to soil OM and slowly metabolized in Iw soils during OM consumption. These methods can be used to evaluate the potential of polluted soils to carry out self-bioremediation by metabolizing TPH.
authors.affiliation: School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, and National International Cooperation Base on Environment and Energy, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 100083 Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Huan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Minmin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.forename: Yiguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Hans H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Richnow
authors.forename: Ruth E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Doni
authors.forename: Brunello
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ceccanti
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002151:Calorimetry; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution; D012987:Soil / Q000737:chemistry*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism*; D060986:Water Wells / Q000032:analysis / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012987:Soil; D014510:Urease