Transformation of tetrabromobisphenol A by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1: Effects of heavy metals. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Shen; Wang, Yong-Feng; Yang, Liu-Yan; Ji, Rong; Miao, Ai-Jun
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 196(2018)
• Page Start: 206
• Page End: 213
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Heavy metals -- O-methylation -- Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 -- Tetrabromobisphenol A; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.12.173
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) is one of the most widely used brominated flame retardants in the world but it is also a pollutant of global concern. In the present study, we studied the transformation of 14 C-labeled TBBPA by a polychlorinated-biphenyl-degrading bacterium, Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 (RHA1), under oxic conditions. During the 5-day incubation, TBBPA was biotransformed rapidly first to its monomethyl ether MeO-TBBPA and then to its more hydrophobic but less toxic dimethyl ether diMeO-TBBPA. The biotransformation followed pseudo-first-order decay kinetics, with a half-life of TBBPA of 0.32 days and only 0.6% of the initially added amount being mineralized. Considering the frequent co-occurrence of TBBPA with heavy metals in the natural environment, we also investigated the effects of three heavy metals (Cd, Cu, and Fe) on the transformation of TBBPA by strain RHA1. While TBBPA transformation was not significantly altered by Cd, it was accelerated by Cu and Fe, presumably due to the effects of these two essential metals on O -methyltransferase activity. Overall, the present study showed that RHA1 is an effective transformer of TBBPA and that certain essential metals, including Cu and Fe, promote the transformation. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: TBBPA was transformed rapidly to its monomethyl ether by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1. The final product was its more hydrophobic but less toxic dimethyl ether. Only 0.6% of the initially added TBBPA was mineralized. TBBPA transformation was not altered by Cd, but was accelerated by Cu and Fe.