@article {632, title = {Microbial degradation of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (CHCl2F and CHCl2CF3) in soils and sediments.}, journal = {Appl Environ Microbiol}, volume = {62}, year = {1996}, month = {1996 May}, pages = {1818-21}, abstract = {The ability of microorganisms to degrade trace levels of the hydrochlorofluorocarbons HCFC-21 and HCFC-123 was investigated. Methanotroph-linked oxidation of HCFC-21 was observed in aerobic soils, and anaerobic degradation of HCFC-21 occurred in freshwater and salt marsh sediments. Microbial degradation of HCFC-123 was observed in anoxic freshwater and salt marsh sediments, and the recovery of 1,1,1-trifluoro-2-chloroethane indicated the involvement of reductive dechlorination. No degradation of HCFC-123 was observed in aerobic soils. In some experiments, HCFCs were degraded at low (parts per billion) concentrations, raising the possibility that bacteria in nature remove HCFCs from the atmosphere.}, keywords = {Biodegradation, Environmental, Chlorofluorocarbons, Soil Microbiology}, issn = {0099-2240}, author = {Oremland, R S and Lonergan, D J and Culbertson, C W and Lovley, D R} }