Johnsen AR, Karlson U. Diffuse PAH contamination of surface soils: environmental occurrence, bioavailability, and microbial degradation.
Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2007;
76:533-43. [PMID:
17594088 DOI:
10.1007/s00253-007-1045-2]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2007] [Revised: 05/08/2007] [Accepted: 05/21/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to recognize the scientific and environmental importance of diffuse pollution with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Diffuse PAH pollution of surface soil is characterized by large area extents, low PAH concentrations, and the lack of point sources. Urban and pristine topsoils receive a continuous input of pyrogenic PAHs, which induces a microbial potential for PAH degradation. The significance of this potential in relation to black carbon particles, PAH bioaccessibility, microbial PAH degradation, and the fate of diffuse PAHs in soil is discussed. Finally, the state-of-the-art methods for future investigations of the microbial degradation of diffuse PAH pollution are reviewed.
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