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Isolation and characterization of naphthalene‐degrading bacteria from sediments of Cadiz area (SW Spain)

Petroleum hydrocarbon contamination of harbor sediments from shipping activity, fuel oil spills, and runoffs are becoming a great concern because of the toxicity and recalcitrance of many of the fuel components. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of most concern due to their toxicity, low volatility, resistance to degradation, and high affinity for sediments. Microorganisms, especially bacteria, play an important role in the biodegradation of these hydrocarbons. The objective of the present study was to characterize and isolate PAH‐(naphthalene) degrading bacteria in the coastal sediments of Cadiz (SW Spain), since this area is mostly polluted by PAH occurrence. A total of 16 naphthalene‐utilizing bacteria were isolated from these sites. Introduction of bacteria isolated from contaminated sediments into mineral medium contributed to the increased rate of hydrocarbon utilization. The bacterial isolates obtained from these sites are very potent in utilizing naphthalene and crude oil. It would be interesting to assess if the selected naphthalene‐degrading isolates may degrade other compounds of similar structure. Hence these isolates could be very helpful in bioremediating the PAH‐contaminated sites. Further pursue on this work might represent eco‐friendly solution for oil contamination on sea surface and coastal area. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2008.