Kumiko AKATSU

Screening of microorganisms degrading tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, a persistent organic compound

Ryo-hei YAMADA, Yoshio KERA, Shouji TAKAHASHI

Chlorinated organophosphate triesters have been widely used in large amounts as flame-retardants or plasticizers in a number of materials, including plastics, macine oil and clothes, thus resulting in their dispersion into natural environment. The compounds are well known to possess carcinogenicity, mutagenicity and neurotoxicity. Since their microbial degradations in natural environment have not been reported, the compounds have been regarded as persistent organic pollutants. In the present study, we succeed in obtaining microorganisms that can degrade tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP), a typical chlorinated organophosphate triesters.