The report was initiated because of a need to bring together a review of the literature pertaining to microbial metabolism of chlorinated aromatic compounds. Most attention has been given to reports of bacterial, fungal, and cyanobacterial pathways of substrate degradation where metabolites or endproducts have been identified. In addition to separate chapters on each class of chlorinated aromatic compounds, reviews of microbial physiology, genetics, and methods of biodegradation assessment are included. The review indicates that many factors are involved in assessing the biodegradability of a compound. Not enough information is presently available to permit extrapolation from one environment to another or to utilize data on a similar compound to assess the biodegradability potential of a given substrate.

Distributed to depository libraries in microfiche. "September 1986." Revised as: Microbiological decomposition of chlorinated aromatic compounds / Melissa L. Rochkind-Dubinsky, Gary S. Sayler, James W. Blackburn. New York : M. Dekker, c1987. (Microbiology series ; v. 18). Includes bibliographical references (pages 176-233) and indexes. "Funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under contract 68-03-3074 to IT Corporation"--Title page verso. "EPA/600/2-86/090."