Degradation of PCBs in liquid media: Effects of commercial meat starters

• Published in: Food science & technology Vol. 65; pp. 1087 - 1092
• Main Authors: Polak, M. Lušnic, Demšar, L., Kirinčič, S., Kozolc, B., Polak, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Commercial meat starter cultures; Degradation; Liquid media; Polychlorinated biphenyls; Degradation; Liquid media; PCBs; Commercial meat starter cultures; Polychlorinated biphenyls; μECD; GC; AOAC
• ISSN: 0023-6438; 1096-1127
• DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2015.09.032

The effects of the commercial meat starters Texel DCM-1 (containing Staphylococcus xylosus and Staphylococcus carnosus) and Texel LM-30 (containing S. xylosus, S. carnosus and Lactobacillus sakei) were investigated in terms of their degradation of a series of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners (PCBs 10, 28, 52, 138, 153 and 180) in two liquid culture media: brain heart infusion (BHI) and Man-Rogosa-Sharpe (MRS). The four experimental groups were composed by the combinations of the two starter cultures with the two culture media. These groups were spiked with a standard solution of the PCB congeners (containing 10 μg/L of each), and incubated for up to 14 days at 30 °C. The results obtained show highly significant negative exponential relationships between the incubation time and concentrations of all PCB congeners tested. More than 50% degradation of total PCBs occurred within 48 h of incubation, and about 80% within 7 days. Maximum degradation (about 88%) was reached within 14 days for the MRS/LM-30 experimental group. •Commercial meat starter cultures were used instead of isolated microorganisms.•Different culture media did not affect the growth of starter cultures.•Addition of the PCB congener mix did not affect the growth of starter cultures.•Both commercial meat starters degraded all of the PCBs tested.•Negative exponential relationships between incubation time and concentrations of all PCBs.