Bio toxicity could be used to identify some sampling locations, but I think
that its application would be limited. DRO, PRO, BTEX, PAHs, SVOCs, CHCs
etc may not elicit the same luminescence response from these microbes and
therefore, some sectors of a site could be missed out for each of the
contaminants of concern.
The same comment applies to the process of bioremediation, the Vibrio
fischeri strain of bacteria employed in these tests is not a specific
hydrocarbon degrader and therefore may not be a useful indicators of in
situ bioremediation. Many bioremediation projects employ the in situ
stimulation of microbes which have adapted to the hydrocarbon (or other)
contaminants over time and therefore I do not believe that you can compare
one luminescent organism with a consortia of site-specific soil microbes.
As with most tools, the microbial luminescence technology will offer
specific benefits for particular environmental applications, but should
only be applied where appropriate. One application for this test is to
identify areas of the site which have been contaminated by compounds that
are not included in the schedule of lab chemical analysis, due to a lack of
understanding of the sites usage. Once these areas of the site have been
identified by the general tox test, further lab work could be commissioned.
Adam Czarnecki
GeoDelft Environmental
01260 299495
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