ASSESMENT OF DIESEL OIL TOXICITY ON SOME HYDROCARBONOCLASTIC BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM IKO RIVER ESTUARY IN THE NIGER DELTA
Abigail Johnny Nkanang*, Sylvester Peter Antai, Atim David Asitok and Ekpeyong Maurice
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the toxicity of diesel oil on the diversity of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria in Iko River estuarine ecosystems to ascertain reasons for poor natural attenuation of the ecosystems in the event of an oil spill. Water and sediment samples were collected from predetermined locations and subjected to microbiological analyses using standard methods. Bacterial identification results revealed taxonomic groups of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria species including Proteus mirabilis strain IFSW, Bacillus cereus TESSWS3, Citrobacter amalonaticus strain Y2ESWS1,Citrobacter amalonaticus Y1FSW,Enterobacter sp.Y8ESWS3. Toxicity testing revealed that toxicant concentration, exposure time and bacteria type were key variables that mediated toxicity. A second-order polynomial regression model revealed significant (P
[Full Text Article] [Download Certificate]