Effect of benzo(a)pyrene on the number of soil microorganisms of the genus Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study of the effect of benzo(a)pyrene on the activity of hydrocarbon-oxidizing soil bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas and Rhodococcus. The objects of research are samples of agrosod-calcareous soil, exposed to oil pollution, located near an oil refinery with an increased concentration of benzo(a)pyrene. Studies carried out over three years from 2017 to 2019 showed that in all soil samples that are exposed to oil pollution, the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene exceeds the MPC. It was found that an increase in the concentration of benzo(a)pyrene in the soil is accompanied by the suppression of the activity of hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria of the genus Rhodococcus and Pseudomonas. The presence of an inverse relationship between the content of benzo(a)pyrene and the number of microorganisms was confirmed by correlation analysis carried out using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients (ρs) and τb-Kendall. The data presented in this work can be used in organizing bioremediation of oil-contaminated agrosod-calcareous soils. In the case of a high level of soil pollution with oil products, for its effective restoration, additional support for the activity of hydrocarbon-oxidizing microorganisms is needed, including by loosening.

Benz(a)pyrene content in soil and medicinal plants of Perm Krai (Russian Federation)

“…Our work [6,7] showed the negative effect of petroleum hydrocarbons and benz(a)pyrene on useful soil microflora.…”