In situ mineralization of chlorinated phenols by pelagic bacteria in lakes of differing humic content

Abstract

The microbial mineralization of phenol and three chlorinated phenols (3,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol) in the water column of 23 pristine, oligotrophic lakes of different humic content was investigated. During short-term (∼2 d) in situ incubations of water samples amended with 14C-labeled phenolic compounds, the fraction of the added pollutant mineralized to 14CO2 was positively correlated with water color (an estimate of humic content) and the total organic carbon concentration of the water. The rate of mineralization per bacterial cell was not correlated with humic content, due to increased bacterial abundance with increasing humic content. Hence, the higher mineralization rate in humic lakes than in clear-water lakes was probably a result of higher bacterial abundance rather than being an effect of bacterial cells having a higher potential for the degradation of such compounds.