Urbanization and Southeastern Estuarine Systems: Microbial Degradation of Contaminants in Sediments
C. Marjorie Aelion, Ph.D.

As part of a larger study, we are investigating the impact of land use on contaminant fate, transport and transformation in coastal South Carolina.  We have examined the differences in ground water quality between an undeveloped estuarine preserve at the Belle W. Baruch Institute for Marine Biology and Coastal Research, and a residentially developed area 20 miles north of this facility.   We are interested in examining the turnover, and bacterial removal of nitrate, pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are entering the coastal environment from both industrial inputs and increasing coastal development including residential areas and golf courses.  Our results indicate that bacterial denitrification mediates increased inputs of nitrate fertilizers, and that bacterial transformation of organic contaminants such as atrazine appears to occur to a greater extent than complete mineralization.  We are continuing this research at the three sites mentioned above as well as in sediment collected from the Charleston Harbor. 

This study is funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Oceanic Research Programs.