Insights into the restoration of tributyltin contaminated environments using marine bacteria from Portuguese fishing ports

Monteiro, Hugo R.; Moutinho, Ariana; Campos, Maria J.; Lemos, Marco F.L.; Esteves, Ana C.

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/6054

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Abstract(s)

Tributyltin (TBT) is an organotin chemical mainly used as biocide in marine antifouling paints. Despite the restrictions and prohibitions on its use, TBT is still an environmental problem due to its extensive application and subsequent release into the environment, being regarded as one of the most toxic chemicals released into the marine ecosystems. Microorganisms inhabiting impacted sites are crucial for their restoration since they have developed mechanisms to tolerate and break down pollutants. Nonetheless, transformation products resulting from the degradation process may still be toxic or, sometimes, even more toxic than the parent compound. The determination of the parent and degradation products by analytical methods, although necessary, may not be ecologically relevant since no information is provided regarding their ecotoxicity. In this study, marine bacteria collected from seven Portuguese fishing ports were isolated and grown in the presence of TBT. Bacteria that exhibited higher growth were used to bioremediate TBT-contaminated waters. The potential of these bacteria as bioremediation agents was evaluated through ecotoxicological assays using the sea snail Gibbula umbilicalis as model organism. Data suggested that some TBT-tolerant bacteria, such as Pseudomonas putida, can reduce the toxicity of TBT contaminated environments. This work contributes to the knowledge of TBT-degrading bacteria.

Description

This study had the support of Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the Strategic Project UID/MAR/04292/2020 granted to MARE and UIDP/50017/2020+UIDB/50017/2020 granted to CESAM, through national funds and the co-funding by the FEDER, within the PT 2020 Partnership Agreement and Compete 2020.

Keywords

Bioremediation Ecotoxicology Gibbula umbilicalis Marine bacteria Tributyltin TBT-tolerance

URI

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.8/6054

Citation

Monteiro, H.R.; Moutinho, A.B.; Campos, M.J.; Esteves, A.C.; Lemos, M.F.L. Insights into the Restoration of Tributyltin Contaminated Environments Using Marine Bacteria from Portuguese Fishing Ports. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 6411. https://doi.org/10.3390/ app11146411