Biosensors for detection of mercury in contaminated soils

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 131; no. 2; pp. 255 - 262
• Main Authors: Bontidean, Ibolya, Mortari, Alessia, Leth, Suzanne, Brown, Nigel L., Karlson, Ulrich, Larsen, Martin M., Vangronsveld, Jaco, Corbisier, Philippe, Csöregi, Elisabeth
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2004; Elsevier
• Subjects: Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Biosensing Techniques - methods; Capacitive biosensor; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Engineering and Technology; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Escherichia coli - genetics; Exact sciences and technology; Gene Transfer Techniques; Industrial Biotechnology; Industriell bioteknik; Mercury; Mercury - analysis; Phaseolus - metabolism; Plant sensor; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Soil; Soil and sediments pollution; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Teknik; Whole cell; Denmark; Europe; Capacitive biosensor; Soil; Whole cell; Plant sensor; Mercury; Bioluminescence; Escherichia coli; Zerovalent metal; Soil pollution; Binding protein; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Bacteria; Enterobacteriaceae; Genetically modified microorganism; Heavy metal; Electrochemical detector; Enzymatic method; Phytotoxicity; Leguminosae; Phaseolus vulgaris; Biosensor; Spermatophyta; Measurement method; Performance; Comparative study; Atomic absorption spectrometry
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2004.02.019

Biosensors based on whole bacterial cells and on bacterial heavy metal binding protein were used to determine the mercury concentration in soil. The soil samples were collected in a vegetable garden accidentally contaminated with elemental mercury 25 years earlier. Bioavailable mercury was measured using different sensors: a protein-based biosensor, a whole bacterial cell based biosensor, and a plant sensor, i.e. morphological and biochemical responses in primary leaves and roots of bean seedlings grown in the mercury-contaminated soil. For comparison the total mercury concentration of the soil samples was determined by AAS. Whole bacterial cell and protein-based biosensors gave accurate responses proportional to the total amount of mercury in the soil samples. On the contrary, plant sensors were found to be less useful indicators of soil mercury contamination, as determined by plant biomass, mercury content of primary leaves and enzyme activities.