A series of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) fires and explosion in PCB-filled capacitors and transformers is discussed. A sampling program followed by isomer specific determination of trace levels of polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) is described. Data from a series of Swedish PCB accidents are given. In addition to PCDFs and PCDDs, we have also ...

Four kinds of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degrading Rhodococcus sp. (TA421, TA431, HA99, and K37) have been isolated from termite ecosystem and under alkaline condition. The bph gene cluster involved in the degradation of PCB/biphenyl has been analyzed in strain TA421. This gene cluster was highly homologous to bph gene clusters in R. globerulus P6 and Rhodococcus sp. RHA1. In this study, we...

Five polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degrading bacteria were tested for the ability to differentiate between the enantiomers of four atropisomeric PCB congeners (2,2',3,6-tetra-CB; 2,2',3,3',6-penta-CB; 2,2',3,4',6-penta-CB; and 2,2',3,5',6-penta-CB) after growth in the presence of tryptone-soytone, biphenyl, carvone, or cymene. Enantioselectivity was shown to vary with respect to strain, congen...

We examined the degradation of biphenyl and the commercial polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) mixture Aroclor 1221 by indigenous Arctic soil microorganisms to assess both the response of the soil microflora to PCB pollution and the potential of the microflora for bioremediation. In soil slurries, Arctic soil microflora and temperate-soil microflora had similar potentials to mineralize [14C]biphenyl...

Accumulation and effects of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in avian species were evaluated at a Superfund site located at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge (IL, USA). European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) were monitored at nest boxes constructed at each of two study and two reference sites. During the breeding season, starling productivity and adult provisioning behavior were monitored. A...

Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)-degradative genes, under the control of a constitutive promoter, were cloned into a broad-host-range plasmid and a transposon. These constructs were inserted into a surfactant-utilizing strain, Pseudomonas putida IPL5, to create a field application vector (FAV) in which a surfactant-degrading organism cometabolizes PCB. By utilizing a surfactant not readily availa...

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), the chlorinated derivatives of biphenyl, are one of the most prevalent, highly toxic and persistent groups of contaminants in the environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the biodegradation of PCBs in northeastern (Heilongjiang Province), northern (Shanxi Province) and eastern China (Shanghai municipality). From these areas, nine soil samples...

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) comprise a group of persistent organic pollutants that differ significantly in their physicochemical properties, their persistence, and their biological activities. They can be metabolized via hydroxylated and dihydroxylated metabolites to PCB quinone intermediates. We have recently demonstrated that both dihydroxy PCBs and PCB quinones can form semiquinone radi...

We performed an assay to assess the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) degradative capability and congener specificity of aerobic microorganisms. Microbial strains were isolated and separated from different types of soils in the Czech Republic, and their PCB-degrading abilities were compared. An industrial mixture of PCB congeners ranging from dichloro- to hexachlorobiphenyl and representing variou...