Genetic characterization of petroleum-degrading microorganisms in contaminated fractured bedrock systems undergoing phytoremediation

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There are an estimated 30,000 brownfield sites across Canada and brownfield redevelopment has thus been identified as an important factor in revitalizing inner city areas and preventing development of greenfield lands. However, conventional remediation technologies may not be feasible due to site-specific characteristics or proximity to residential and other high-traffic areas. As such, new remediation methods, such as phytoremediation, or the degradation of organic contaminants via biological processes involving a combination of a plant and its associated microbial community, may be appropriate. BP Canada Energy Group ULC (BP Canada) retains environmental liability at a historical manufacturing facility ("the Site"). The Site was planted with hybrid poplar (Populus x Canadensis) approximately 5 years ago as a remedial strategy for elevated concentrations of toluene in groundwater. BP Canada is committed to optimizing the effectiveness of the existing phytoremediation system through detailed characterization of the processes contributing to toluene degradation or attenuation and augmenting those processes where possible using native toluene-degrading microorganisms associated with soil, bedrock, groundwater and the plants themselves. A necessary first step to developing alternative in situ bioremediation techniques is to determine the effects of contamination on existing microbial communities, and assess whether these communities are capable of degrading toluene. The Dunfield lab will use molecular techniques to assess contaminant effects on microbial communities and presence/abundance of toluene-degrading microbes in bedrock, soil and groundwater samples. They will target groups associated with toluene degradation including both aerobic (toluene dioxygenase) and anaerobic (benzylsuccinate synthase) bacterial toluene-degradation pathways. Increasing our understanding of microbial community dynamics may be invaluable to current efforts that are underway to improve in situ remediation strategies on the Site. This knowledge will ultimately contribute to the development of strategies to remediate other brownfield systems.