Voll M J, Isbister J, Isaki L, McCommas M, Colwell R R
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 1978 Sep 29;298:104-10. doi: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1977.tb19257.x.
Bacteria and fungi present in estuarine and marine water and sediment accomplish significant degradation of crude oil, refined oils, polychlorinated biphenyls, and organomercurials, with the rate and extent of degradation varying with species, geographic source, temperature, and other biologic and environmental parameters. Our biodegradation studies have been extended to determine if physical weathering and/or microbial degradation of oil by microorganisms present in Chesapeake Bay water and sediment produces potentially carcinogenic substances. Water and sediment from an area in Chesapeake Bay that receives heavy input of oil and from a relatively nonpolluted site have been assayed for mutagenic ability by use of the Ames method, which is a bacterial assay and is highly sensitive. Preliminary findings indicate the presence of mutagenic substances in samples collected from the polluted site. Extracts of oil subjected to microbial degradation under controlled laboratory conditions did not yield detectable mutagenic activity. In situ studies are in progress.
河口和海水中以及沉积物中的细菌和真菌能够对原油、精炼油、多氯联苯和有机汞化合物进行显著降解，降解的速率和程度会因物种、地理来源、温度以及其他生物和环境参数的不同而有所变化。我们的生物降解研究已得到扩展，以确定切萨皮克湾水体和沉积物中的微生物对石油的物理风化和/或微生物降解是否会产生潜在的致癌物质。通过使用艾姆斯试验法（一种细菌试验且灵敏度很高），对切萨皮克湾中一个接收大量石油输入的区域以及一个相对未受污染地点的水和沉积物进行了致突变能力检测。初步研究结果表明，从污染地点采集的样本中存在致突变物质。在受控实验室条件下对经过微生物降解的石油提取物进行检测，未发现可检测到的致突变活性。原位研究正在进行中。
