Biomarkers and bioremediation solutions for 1,4-dioxane contamination

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1,4-dioxane is a common groundwater contaminant and likely human carcinogen. As such, 1,4-dioxane**represents an environmental and human health hazard. Dioxane is a common co-contaminant in many active**and retired industrial sites where it can prevent remediation of co-occurring, high-priority contaminants such as**chlorinated solvents. Understanding the capacity for 1,4-dioxane attenuation and bioremediation at a**contaminated site is thus important to environmental protection agencies, site owners, and the general public.**The proposed research has concurrent aims of identifying biomarkers for microbially-mediated 1,4-dioxane**degradation and development of 1,4-dioxane degrading enrichment cultures as potential bioremediation tools.**The work will include field sampling two 1,4-dioxane contaminated sites - a southern Ontario landfill and a**former chemical plant in Southeast Texas. Microbial biomass will be filtered from landfill leachate and**groundwater. Environmental microbes will be characterized through metagenomic sequencing, and 1,4-dioxane**degraders cultivated and their activities characterized. Genes involved in 1,4-dioxane degradation will be**identified from the sampled sites as well as from public metagenome sequences from diverse environments,**defining the prevalence and potential for 1,4-dioxane degradation across the globe. Accurate site assessment**and access to cost-effective bioremediation options will have strong economic benefits for site owners. Based**on dioxane's toxicity and prevalence, maximum contaminant levels are expected to be implemented by**Environment Canada and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency within the next few years. Development**of biomarkers to assess the potential for 1,4-dioxane degradation and establishment of bioremediation tools are**thus proactive steps to ensure Canadian policy makers and site owners have rapid, appropriate responses to**newly established maximum contaminant levels.