Paraburkholderia Xenovorans Strain LB400 Significantly Decreased Volatilization of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from Freshwater and Saline Sediments

David J. Ramotowski; Andres Martinez; Rachel F. Marek; Keri C. Hornbuckle; Timothy E. Mattes

doi:10.1021/acsestwater.5c00423

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Paraburkholderia Xenovorans Strain LB400 Significantly Decreased Volatilization of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from Freshwater and Saline Sediments

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Paraburkholderia Xenovorans Strain LB400 Significantly Decreased Volatilization of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from Freshwater and Saline Sediments

David J. Ramotowski, Andres Martinez, Rachel F. Marek, Keri C. Hornbuckle and Timothy E. Mattes

ACS ES&T water, Vol.5(10), pp.5841-5851

10/10/2025

DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.5c00423

PMCID: PMC12519473

PMID: 41098484

Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access

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Abstract

Airborne PCB emissions from contaminated sediments pose a public health risk and are frequently cited as a concern for communities located near PCB-contaminated bodies of water. We assessed the potential to decrease the emissions of lower-chlorinated (LC)-PCBs (<3 chlorines) through bioaugmentation with aerobic PCB-degrading Paraburkholderia xenovorans strain LB400 in laboratory microcosms using historically PCB-contaminated sediments from a wastewater lagoon (Altavista, VA; AVL) and an estuary (New Bedford Harbor, MA; NBH). We compared the impact of nonshaken vs shaken conditions on airborne PCBs in LB400-bioaugmented AVL sediment (51% LC-PCBs) to better replicate field conditions. After 35 days, airborne LC-PCBs decreased by 54% in nonshaken bioaugmented AVL sediments, compared to a 60% decrease in shaken bioaugmented sediments. Bioaugmenting LB400 into unshaken NBH sediments (44% LC-PCBs) significantly decreased airborne LC-PCBs by 50% over 35 days. Biphenyl dioxygenase gene (bphA) abundance decreased by several orders of magnitude after 16 days in all experiments, demonstrating a potential decrease in treatment effectiveness over time. These novel findings demonstrate that LB400 effectively degrades LC-PCBs with varying profiles over a range of environmentally relevant mixing scenarios. Further treatment delivery development has the potential to protect nearby communities from PCB exposure, decrease health risks, and improve quality of life.

Bioremediation

Sediment

polychlorinated biphenyls

passive sampling

microcosms

Paraburkholderia xenovorans LB400

biphenyl dioxygenase

UIOWA OA Agreement

Details

Title: Subtitle: Paraburkholderia Xenovorans Strain LB400 Significantly Decreased Volatilization of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) from Freshwater and Saline Sediments
Creators: David J. Ramotowski - University of Iowa
Andres Martinez - University of Iowa
Rachel F. Marek - University of Iowa
Keri C. Hornbuckle - University of Iowa
Timothy E. Mattes - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: ACS ES&T water, Vol.5(10), pp.5841-5851
DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.5c00423
PMID: 41098484
PMCID: PMC12519473
NLM abbreviation: ACS ES T Water
ISSN: 2690-0637
eISSN: 2690-0637
Publisher: American Chemical Society
Grant note: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences: P42ES013661 National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
This work was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) grant P42ES013661. We thank Chris Knudson for technical assistance in the laboratory and Kai Wang for helpful advice on statistical analysis.
Language: English
Electronic publication date: 09/18/2025
Date published: 10/10/2025
Academic Unit: Civil and Environmental Engineering; Occupational and Environmental Health; IIHR--Hydroscience and Engineering; Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Human Toxicology; Iowa Superfund Research Program
Record Identifier: 9984966342702771

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