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Bacteria Identification in Machangara River Water Capable of Metabolizing Emerging Estrone Pollutant

Abstract:

Estrone (E1) is an important emerging pollutant due to its significant prevalence in the environment and the association with estrogenic activity, causing ecological effects such as the feminization of aquatic organisms. Although E1 is degraded in wastewater treatment, the elimination is not complete; therefore, biological treatments could be an alternative. Bacteria such as Nitrosomonas europea, Pseudomonas spp., Sphingomonas spp., and Sphingobacterium spp. under aerobic conditions oxidize E1 because of their ability to use estrogens as a source of carbon and energy, producing smaller and less toxic products. For this reason, this study aimed to isolate and identify bacteria from wastewater of two areas with this pollutant in the Machángara river located in Quito-Ecuador, capable of using the emerging pollutant estrone as the only carbon source. Pseudomonas putida was identified in this river as a microorganism that uses estrone as the only carbon source, obtaining an estrone consumption of 100% after 120 h of exposure with 5% v/v of inoculum. These results can be used as the basis for future biodegradation assays of this pollutant in water sources.