SCREENING OF HEAVY METALS AND AROMATIC HYDROCARBON-RESISTANT BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM MARCHICA LAGOON

Marchica's lagoon, which is a vulnerable biological area, has been a key destination for metal and hydrocarbon pollution in the past. As a result, all fish supplies have been depleted. Although the site is no longer subject to active pollution discharges, the pollution of this maritime ecosystem has been a major source of worry. The goal of this study was to investigate metal pollution at fifteen distinct sampling locations and isolate heavy metals, antibiotics, and microorganisms that could withstand hydrocarbons. Exiguobacterium marinum strains had various metal resistances to copper, lead, cadmium, and mercury at concentrations of 8, 6.8, 4, and 2 mmol/l, respectively. Furthermore, the bacterial community thrived in the presence of high levels of sodium chloride (80 g/l), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs: 7.3 g/l), and antibiotics (especially penicillin and tetracyclin, as shown in Table 6). The isolates' ability to reproduce in the presence of inhibitors was demonstrated by their growth kinetics in the presence of mercury (1 and 2 mmol/l). The isolated strains have demonstrated potentially significant contributions as wastewater treatment bacteria and in the potential implementation of a decontamination protocol through the use of bioremediation strategies to reduce lagoon pollution, taking into account their halophilic properties and substantial resistance in the presence of heavy metals and hydrocarbons.

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