As-related bacterial activities in marine sediments

Description

A recent evaluation of the potential impact of arsenic on human health revealed high concentrations of arsenic in marine sediments of the South Marseille littoral. The marine cycle of arsenic is well described in the water column, from dissolved species to phytoplankton, zooplankton and more complex organisms. In contrast, only scarce data are available on the phenomena controlling arsenic transport from sediment to water column. Moreover, the bacterial cycle of arsenic in marine sediments has not been studied yet. Here we compared AsIII-oxidizing and AsV-reducing activities in marine sediments containing high or low arsenic concentrations. We also looked for functional genes related to AsIII oxidation and dissimilatory AsV reduction in the two types of sediments.

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