Table Of ContentENVIRONMENTAL
BIOTECHNOLOGY
Reducing Risks from
Environmental Chemicals
through Biotechnology
BASIC LIFE SCIENCES
Alexander Hollaender, Founding Editor
Recent volumes in the series:
Volume 28 GENETIC CONTROL OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS
Edited by Gilbert S. Omenn and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 29 SISTER CHROMATID EXCHANGES: 25 Years 01 Experimental Research
Part A: The Nature 01 SCEs
Part B: Genetic Toxicology and Human Studies
Edited by Raymond R. Tice and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 30 PLASMIDS IN BACTERIA
Edited by Donald R. Helinski, Stanley N. Cohen, Don B. Clewell,
David A. Jackson, and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 31 GENETIC CONSEQUENCES OF NUCLEOTIDE POOL IMBALANCE
Edited by Frederick J. de Serres
Volume 32 TISSUE CULTURE IN FORESTRY AND AGRICULTURE
Edited by Randolph R. Henke, Karen W. Hughes,
Milton J. Constantin, and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 33 ASSESSMENT OF RISK FROM LOW-LEVEL EXPOSURE TO RADIATION
AND CHEMICALS: A Critical Overview
Edited by Avril D. Woodhead, Claire J. Shellabarger, Virginia Pond,
and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 34 BASIC AND APPLIED MUTAGENESIS: With Special Relerence
to Agricultural Chemicals in Developing Countries
Edited by Amir Muhammed and R. C. von Borstel
Volume 35 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF AGING
Edited by Avril D. Woodhead, Anthony D. Blackett, and
Alexander Hollaender
Volume 36 ANEUPLOIDY: Etiology and Mechanisms
Edited by Vicki L. Dellarco, Peter E. Voytek, and
Alexander Hollaender
Volume 37 GENETIC ENGINEERING OF ANIMALS: An Agricultural Perspective
Edited by J. War ren Evans and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 38 MECHANISMS OF DNA DAMAGE AND REPAIR: Implications
lor Carcinogenesis and Risk Assessment
Edited by Michael G. Simic, Lawrence Grossman, and
Arthur C. Upton
Volume 39 ANTIMUTAGENESIS AND ANTICARCINOGENESIS MECHANISMS
Edited by Delbert M. Shankel, Philip E. Hartman, Tsuneo Kada,
and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 40 EXTRACHROMOSOMAL ELEMENTS IN LOWER EUKARYOTES
Edited by Reed B. Wickner, Alan Hinnebusch, Alan M. Lambowitz,
I. C. Gunsalus, and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 41 TAILORING GENES FOR CROP IMPROVEMENT:
An Agricultural Perspective
Edited by George Bruening, John Harada, Tsune Kosuge,
and Alexander Hollaender
Volume 42 EVOLUTION OF LONGEVITY IN ANIMALS: A Comparative Approach
Edited by Avril D. Woodhead and Keith H. Thompson
Volume 43 PHENOTYPIC VARIATION IN POPULATIONS: Relevance to Risk Assessment
Edited by Avril D. Woodhead, Michael ABender, and Robin C. Leonard
Volume 44 GENETIC MANIPULATION OF WOODY PLANTS
Edited by James W. Hanover and Daniel E. Keathley
Volume 45 ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY: Reducing Risks Irom Environmental
Chemicals through Biotechnology
Edited by Gilbert S. Omenn
A Continuation Order Plan is available lor this series. A continuation order will bring delivery 01 each new
volume immediately upon publication. Volumes are billed only upon actual shipment. For lurther inlormation
please contact the publisher.
ENVIRONMENTAL
BIOTECHNOWGY
Reducing Risks from
Environmental Chemieals
through Biotechnology
Edited by
Gilbert S. Omenn
University of Washington
SeattJe, Washington
Associate Editors
Rita Colwell, A. M. Chakrabarty,
Morris Levin, and Perry McCarty
Technical Editors
Claire M. Wilson and
Gregory Kuny
Council for Research Planning in Biological Sciences, Inc.
Washington, D.C.
Springer Science+Business Media, LLC
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Conference on Reducing Risks from Environmental Chemicals through Biotechnology
(1987: Seattle, Wash.)
Environmental biotechnology.
(Basic life sciences; v. 45)
"Proceedings of a Conference on Reducing Risks from Environmental Chemicals
through Biotechnology, held July 19-23,1987, in Seattle, Washington"—T.p. verso.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Sewage—Purification—Biological treatment—Congresses. 2. Chemicals—Environ
mental aspects—Congresses. 3. Pollution—Environmental aspects—Congresses. 4.
Microbial ecology—Congresses. I. Omenn, Gilbert S. II. Colwell, Rita R., 1934- . III. Ti
tle. IV. Series.
TD755.C67 1987 628 88-17886
ISBN 978-1-4899-0826-1
Proceedings of a conference on Reducing Risks from Environmental Chemicals
through Biotechnology, held July 19-23, 1987, in Seattle, Washington
This book was copyedited and entirely retyped by the staff of the Council for Research Planning in
Biological Sciences, Inc., located on the premises of Associated Universities, Inc.,
of which the Council is a guest.
The opinions expressed herein reflect the views of the authors, and mention of any trade names
or commercial products does not necessarily constitute endorsement by the funding sources.
ISBN 978-1-4899-0826-1 ISBN 978-1-4899-0824-7 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-1-4899-0824-7
© 1988 Springer Science+Business Media New York
Originally published by Plenum Press, New York in 1988
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1988
All rights reserved
No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, microfilming,
recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the Publisher
DEDICATION
Alexander Hollaender
(1898-1986)
Pioneering scientist. inspirational mentor. discerning art collector.
Dl'. Hollaender was the father of radiation biology. longtime director of the
Biology Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. a founder of thc Radia
tion Research Society and the Environmental Mutagen Society. member of
the National Academy of Sciences (1957). recipient of the Enrico Fermi
Award (1983). He had a remarkable capacity to look beyond the well
recognized problems of the day. even at age 87. as this Conference was
organized.
The Editors
CONTENTS
SCIENTIFIC UNDERPINNINGS AND NEW METHODS
Welcome and Introduction xi
Gilbert S. Omenn
MICROBIAL ECOLOGY
The Ecology of an Anaerobic Dechlorinating Consortium •••• • . • • . . . 3
James M. Tiedje and Todd O. Stevens
Performance of Biodegradative Microorganisms in Soil:
Xenobiotic Chemieals as Unexploited Metabolie
Niches .•..••..........••..•.•••.•••...•.•..•.•..•.•.•••.. 15
Dennis D. Focht
Tracking Microorganisms and Genes in the Environment •.•....•... 31
Ronald M. Atlas and Gary S. Sayler
Discussion 47
Roundtable Discussion on Microbial Ecology ........................ 51
Gordon Orians (Chairman), Martin Alexander,
Ronald M. Atlas, Al Bourquin, Rita Colwell,
Dennis D. Focht, Morris Levin, and
James M. Tiedje
RELEVANT ADVANCES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Prospects for Laboratory Engineering of Bacteria
to Degrade Pollutants ••••••...•...••..••...•..••.•••.••..• 61
K. N. Timmis, F. Rojo, and J. L. Ramos
Constructing Microbial Strains for Degradation of
Halogenated Aromatic Hydrocarbons •.....•..•..••....•.••• 81
Peter J. Chapman
vii
viii CONTENTS
Stable Inheritance of Bacterial Plasmids: Practical
Considerations in the Release of Organisms
into the Environment 97
000 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 00 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Stanley No Cohen, Christine A Miller,
0
Serge Beaucage, and Donald Po Biek
Biotransformations of Mercury Compounds 105
Anne 00 Summers
Discussion 111
0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 0 000
Ananda Mo Chakrabarty (Chairman)
lVlINIMIZING RISKS OF RELEASE OF MICROORGANISMS
INTO THE ENVIRONMENT
Using Knowledge of Virulence Factors to Select or
Design Organisms with Low Risk of Pathogenicity 121
Stanley Falkow
Roundtable Discussion on lVlinimizing Risks of Release of
Microorganisms into the Environment 127
0000000000000000000000
Gilbert So Omenn (Chairman), Ernesta Ballard,
Ananda Mo Chakrabarty, Stanley No Cohen,
Stanley Falkow, Gwyn Jones, Po Ho Pritchard,
and Kenneth No Timmis
APPLICATIONS TO CHElVJlCAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL TARGETS,
COlVIBINING MICROBIAL AND ENGINEERING APPROACHES
Bioengineering Issues Related to In Situ Remediation of
Contaminated Soils and Groundwater 143
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Perry Lo lVIcCarty
Bioremediation of Chemical Spills 163
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gaylen R Brubaker and Jurgen Ho Exner
0
Microbiological Cleanup of Groundwater Contaminated
by Pen tachlorophenol 173
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Thomas Do Frick, Ronald Lo Crawford, '
Michael Martinson, Tom Chresand, and
George Bateson
Remediation of Multimedia Contamination from the
Wood-Preserving Industry 193
000000000000000000000000000000000
Ao Dale Pflug and Mo Boyd Burton
Preliminary Developmellt of a Bench-Scale Treatment
System for Aerobic Degradation of
Trichloroethylene 203
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Michael J K Nelson, Po Ho Pritchard,
0 0
and Al Wo Bourquin
Biodegradation of Hydrocarbons in the Environment 211
Ronald Mo Atlas
CONTENTS ix
Discussion . • • . . . • • . . • • . . • • • . • • . . • • • . • • . . • . . • • • . • • . • . . • • • . • . . • . • • . . 223
Michael Weishaar (Chairman)
Complex Industrial Waste Sites •....•.•••..••.•.................... 237
William D. St. John and David J. Sikes
Biological Approaches for Polychlorinated
Biphenyl Degradation •••••••.•.••.•.•...•.•••.••.....•...•• 253
Ronald Unterm an , Donna L. Bedard,
Michael J. Brennan, Lawrence H. Bopp,
Frank J. Mondello, Ronald E. Brooks,
David P. Mobley, John B. McDermott,
Charles C. Schwartz, and David K. Dietrich
Exploitation of the High Affinity and Specificity of
Proteins in Waste Stream Treatment • . • • • • . . • • • • . • . . • • . • . • . 271
Clement E. Furlong, Joseph A. Sund strom ,
Edward B. Weiler, Peter W. Cheung,
John Yin, and Harvey W. Blanch
Bioprocessing of Coal .•..••.•..••••••.••••..••.•.•..•...••••.•..•.. 281
Jenefir D. Isbister, Robert E. Wyza, Joseph Lippold,
Alice DeSouza, and George Anspach
Anaerobic Fluidized-Be<l Treatment of Hazardous Wastes .•..••••.•.. 295
Makram T. Suidan and Girgis F. Nakhla
Environmental Concerns Associated with the Design 307
of Genetic Engineering Facilities ••.•..•..•.....•..••....•..
Joe C. Watt, Vincent S. Wroniewicz, and Daniel F. loli
Discussion on Applications to Chemie al and
Environmental Targets, Combining Microbiology
and Engineering ...•...•.•..••.•••......•...•....•••••..••. 323
James Spain (Chairman), Alan T. Bull, Arnold Demain,
Perry L. McCarty, J ames Tiedje, and Michael Torpy
THE ROLE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN POLLUTION CONTROL AND
THE ROLE OF GENETIC ENGINEERING IN SUCH
BIOTECHNOLOGY APPLICATIONS
Assessment, Communication, and Management of
Environmental Risks . . • • • . . • . • . • . • • • . . • . . • . . . • . . . . . • • . . . • • 333
William D. Ruckelshaus
Balancing Regulatory Control, Scientific Knowledge, and
Public Understanding . • • • • • • • • . . • • • • • • • . • • • • . • • • • • • • • • . • • • 341
David T. Kingsbury
Environmental Pollution Policies in Light of
Biotechnological Assessment:
Organisation for Economic Cooperation,
United Kingdom, and European Economic
Council Perspectives •..••••.•.•..•••••..•••••..•••.•••.•.•. 351
Alan T. Bull, Geoffrey Holt, and David J. Hardman
x CONTENTS
Environmental Protection Agency Actions to Stimulate
Use of Biotechnology for Pollution Control
and Cleanup • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . • 373
Marcia E. Williams
Commentary: Some Issues in Biodegradation 381
Martin Alexander
Discus sion .••..•..............•...................•.•.............. 385
Gilbert S. Omenn (Chairman)
CORPORATE PANEL
Users and Providers of the New Technologies ...................... 391
Gilbert S. Omenn (Chairman), Christopher Bayley,
Gaylen R. Brubaker, Dick A. Davis,
Dale Pflug, David Sikes, Ronald Unterm an ,
and Michael Weishaar
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Public Participation .....•...•...........•.•........................ 405
Gilbert S. Omenn (Chairman), Caroline Allen,
John Dohrmann, Tim Douglas, Susan Hall,
and Gordon Orians
Superfund Strategies and Technologies: A Role
for Biotechnology .......................................... 419
Joel S. Hirschhorn
Final Discussion ................. . . . • • . . . . . . • • . . • . • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 431
Gilbert S. Omenn (Chairman), Martin Alexander,
Alan T. BuH, Ananda M. Chakrabarty,
Rita Colwell, Susan Hall, David T. Kingsbury,
and Hester Kobayashi
Concluding Remarks .......................................•....... 437
Posters 439
Appendix: Lists of Priority Pollutants, Targets of Opportunity ..•. 469
Roster of Speakers, Chairmen, and Participants 481
Index 493
