Computer Tool For Evaluation of Anaerobic Microbial PCB Transformations.

Several researchers have demonstrated the transformation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. This transformation, or conversion, is characteristic and often dependent on PCB congener structure and, in addition, dictates the products or extent of degradation. Because transformation is linked to microbial activities, bioremediation has been hailed as a possible solution for PCB-contaminated soils and sediments, and several demonstration activities have verified laboratory results. This article presents results from mathematical modeling of anaerobic microbial PCB transformation. Because transformation can be influenced by both starting composition of the PCBs and microbial activity, this article systematically evaluates several of the most common transformation patterns. The predicted data are also compared with experimental results. For example, the correlation between laboratory-observed and predicted products was, in some cases, as good as 0.96 (perfect correlation = 1.0). In addition to predicting extent of transformation, the water solubility and the possible human effects of the PCBs are discussed through the use of documented dioxin-like toxicity and accumulation in humans before and alter transformation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]