You are here:
PSYCHROPHILIC PSEUDOMONAS SP. RESISTANT TO MERCURY FROM PAVLODAR, KAZAKHSTAN
Citation:
Abdrashitova, S. A., M. A. Ilyushchenko, A. Y. Kalmykv, S. A. Aitkeldieva, R D. Devereux, AND W J. DavisHoover*. PSYCHROPHILIC PSEUDOMONAS SP. RESISTANT TO MERCURY FROM PAVLODAR, KAZAKHSTAN. Presented at 8th Bioremediation Symposium, Baltimore, MD, June 06 - 09, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
As mercury circulates and deposits globally, the remediation of extensive mercury contamination surrounding a chloralkali plant in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan is critical. High-levels of mercury contamination exist within the confines of the plant, at nearby off-site waste storage and evaporation ponds, and in Balkyldak Lake which adjoins the waste ponds. Estimates of the extent and levels of contamination were made based on available information, the amount of mercury used at the plant over the period it operated and field monitoring. Bacteria, Actinomyces spp., and fungi from soil and sediment samples collected at the plant and Balkyldak Lake were cultured. A high percentage of these microorganisms were resistant to mercury chloride concentrations up to 0.1 mM. Several isolates of Pseudomonos Sp. have been discovered which grow in the presence of mercury and at 4 degrees C. As the local environment can be quite cool, the potential for these bacteria to be used in in situ bioremediation at this site and other contaminated sites in Kazakhstan is promising.