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The resistance patterns to metals of bacterial populations in contaminated land
Author(s) -
OLSON B. H.,
THORNTON I.
Publication year - 1982
Publication title -
journal of soil science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.244
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1365-2389
pISSN - 0022-4588
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2389.1982.tb01765.x
Subject(s) - environmental chemistry , contamination , bioavailability , resistance (ecology) , metal , environmental science , soil water , heavy metals , bacteria , dilution , chemistry , biology , ecology , soil science , bioinformatics , genetics , physics , organic chemistry , thermodynamics
Summary The resistance of populations of soil bacteria to heavy metals is determined using a dilution technique with media containing a range of metal concentrations. Metal resistance patterns are quantitatively related to ‘total’ concentrations of Cd, Zn and Pb in surface soils from historical mining areas in Somerset and Derbyshire. It is proposed that the tolerance of bacteria to metals may be used to determine their bioavailability and potential toxicity to other forms of life.