Fossil Fuel Biodegradation: Laboratory Studies

Biodegradation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of creosote by undefined bacterial cultures was shown to be accompanied by the accumulation of neutral and acidic oxidation products. Formation of a number of identified neutral products is accounted for by demonstration of anomalous actions of an arene dioxygenase on the benzylic methylene and methylene carbons of napthenoaromatic hydrocarbons. Both neutral and acidic water-soluble fractions are also formed when various mixed bacterial cultures degrade weathered crude oil. While constituents of these fractions are not yet identified, the neutral materials have been shown to be toxic to developing embryos of invertebrates. These observations are discussed in relation to chemical and toxicological assessments of biodegradation of the complex chemical mixtures of fossil fuels.