Enhancement of degradation of DDT and HCB in tropical clay soils in model experiments

Abstract

This study sought to enhance the degradation of two persistent organic pollutants (POPs) – DDT and HCB – in two tropical clay soils in model laboratory experiments. Anaerobic-aerobic cycles and amendment with compost were used to activate biotic and abiotic pathways involved in the degradation of chlorinated compounds. The ability of a 1,2,4-TCB degrading soil-borne community to degrade organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) was also tested. The results showed that steering ecological conditions is a feasible strategy to enhance the breakdown of POPs in the two tropical soils, and that the microbial consortium could have remediation potential for mono-aromatic OCPs.