Toxicity of Synthetic High Density and Conventional Hydrocarbon Jet Fuels to a Soil Bacterium

摘要

The effects of selected high density and conventional jet fuels on the growth kinetics of a soil microorganism were determined. A culture of Enterobacter clocacae isolated from soil was exposed to various concentrations of each fuel in a mineral salts medium and bacterial growth was monitored turbidimetrically and by viable count techniques. Effects were indicated by observing changes in maximum bacterial growth, growth rate, lag time, and death rate. The majority of the fuels studied manifested their effects by decreasing the number of viable organisms during the stationary growth period. Stable emulsion formation resulted in erroneous turbidimetric determinations. The applicability of bacterial systems as indicators of toxicity of water insoluble jet propellants was discussed. (Author)