Superfund Research Program

January 2023

Paper of the Month or Year

Adding bacteria that can break down polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to contaminated sediments reduced the release of the chemicals into surrounding air, according to researchers at the University of Iowa SRP Center. PCBs are a family of more than 200 structurally similar chemicals that have been linked to a range of adverse health effects, including some cancers.

Study results suggest that amending sediment at PCB-contaminated sites with certain bacterial species can lower airborne PCB levels and reduce exposure to nearby communities, said the authors.

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