MICROBIAL-DEGRADATION OF POLYCHLORINATED-BIPHENYLS

PCB are among the most widespread chlorinated polutants in the ecosystem. Conventional methods for their liquidation may be used only with great difficulty, because when burned in standard burning systems the formation of highly toxic polychlorinated dibenzourans and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins has been observed, but also because PCB are only very slightly attacked by common microflora present in biological cleaner plants, owing to their stability, and they pass through these plants practically unchanged. Therefore procedures are now sought and one of the promising possibilities is their microbial degradation by selected microorganisms. The aim of this article is to outline the fundamental problems connected with PCB (properties, health hazards) and to summarize the latest knowledge concerning both aerobic and anaerobic microbial degradaton of PCB.