Open AccessMicrobiology of formation waters from the deep repository of liquid radioactive wastes Severnyi
Author(s) -
Nazina Tamara N.,
Kosareva Inessa M.,
Petrunyaka Vladimir V.,
Savushkina Margarita K.,
Kudriavtsev Evgeniy G.,
Lebedev Valeriy A.,
Ahunov Viktor D.,
Revenko Yuriy A.,
Khafizov Robert R.,
Osipov George A.,
Belyaev Sergey S.,
Ivanov Mikhail V.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.377
H-Index - 155
eISSN - 1574-6941
pISSN - 0168-6496
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsec.2004.02.017
Subject(s) - microorganism , environmental chemistry , sulfide , sulfate , nitrate , anoxic waters , radionuclide , radioactive waste , bioremediation , methane , geomicrobiology , biology , contamination , chemistry , ecology , nuclear chemistry , bacteria , genetics , physics , environmental biotechnology , organic chemistry , quantum mechanics
The presence, diversity, and geochemical activity of microorganisms in the Severnyi repository of liquid radioactive wastes were studied. Cultivable anaerobic denitrifiers, fermenters, sulfate‐reducers, and methanogens were found in water samples from a depth of 162–405 m below sea level. Subsurface microorganisms produced methane from [2‐ 14 C]acetate and [ 14 C]CO 2 , formed hydrogen sulfide from Na 2 35 SO 4 , and reduced nitrate to dinitrogen in medium with acetate. The cell numbers of all studied groups of microorganisms and rates of anaerobic processes were higher in the zone of dispersion of radioactive wastes. Microbial communities present in the repository were able to utilise a wide range of organic and inorganic compounds and components of waste (acetate, nitrate, and sulfate) both aerobically and anaerobically. Bacterial production of gases may result in a local increase of the pressure in the repository and consequent discharge of wastes onto the surface. Microorganisms can indirectly decrease the mobility of radionuclides due to consumption of oxygen and production of sulfide, which favours deposition of metals. These results show the necessity of long‐term microbiological and radiochemical monitoring of the repository.