Superfund Research Program
Bioremediation of PCB-contaminated Sediments in the St. Lawrence River
Project Leader: G-Yull Rhee (Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health)
Grant Number: P42ES004913
Funding Period: 1995 - 2000
Project-Specific Links
- Project Summary
Project Summary (1995-2000)
The overall goal of this project is to develop techniques to biodegrade sediment polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by enhancing and combining anaerobic dechlorination with aerobic degradation. Indigenous microbial populations from the St. Lawrence River near the Massena Superfund site are used. Specifically, factors that decrease the lower limit of in situ dechlorination in highly contaminated sediments are determined as well as the threshold concentration and dechlorination potential in less contaminated areas. This work also includes studies on maintaining/enhancing dechlorinating activities in dredged sediments applicable to the design of confined treatment facilities for in situ dechlorination activity, and isolation/ screening for aerobic PCB-degrading bacteria to further degrade the products of dechlorination.