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THE BEHAVIOR OF MICROORGANISMS RESISTANT TO MERCURY FROM PAVLODAR, KAZAKHSTAN
Citation:
Abdrashitova, S. A., M. A. Ilyushchenko, A. Y. Kalmykv, S. A. Aitkeldieva, W J. DavisHoover*, AND R D. Devereux. THE BEHAVIOR OF MICROORGANISMS RESISTANT TO MERCURY FROM PAVLODAR, KAZAKHSTAN. Presented at In Situ and On-Site Bioremediation, Seventh International Symposium, Orlando, FL, 06/2-5/2003.
Description:
There is extensive mercury contamination surrounding a chloralkali plant in Pavlodar, Kazakhstan that operated from 1970 to 1990. High-level mercury contamination exists within the confines of the plant, at nearby off-site waste storage and evaporation ponds, 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 sp., and fungi from soil and sediment samples collected at the plant and Balkyldak Lake were cultured. A high percentage of these microorganisms were resistance to mercury chloride concentrations up to 0.1 mM. These mercury-resistant microorganisms are being characterized for their potential to be used in bioremediation at this site and other contaminated sites in Kazakhstan. The results of individual cultures will be given.