Aquatic bacterial populations and heavy metals—II. Influence of chemical content of aquatic environments on bacterial uptake of chemical elements

Abstract

Bacterial populations from three aquatic sources (a coal ash basin, a brackish lake and a fresh water lake) were isolated, identified and tested for chemical element uptake under varying conditions. Elemental analysis was made by neutron activation. Increased concentrations of copper and/or mercury in the water affected the uptake of other elements in that overall concentrations of heavy metals was generally increased at 25°C while that of active metals and the halogens was decreased in brackish water (salinity 9 parts/10 3). Light metals were less affected. These effects were less pronounced in ash basin water and fresh water. Results indicate that elemental uptake by bacteria is affected by the particular combinations of chemical elements in an aquatic source.