Effects of arene-type hydrocarbon air pollutants on Bacillus megaterium.

Effects of certain common carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon organic air pollutants on Bacillus megaterium cultures were noted. Depending on the medium used, either growth suppression or induction of atypical cell forms was observed in cultures grown in the presence of a carcinogen. By contrast, no such alterations were apparent in cultures grown in media supplemented with a noncarcinogen. Both carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic hydrocarbons exerted an enhancing influence, of varying degree, on lipogenesis, glycolysis, and methylene blue reductase activity. A higher than normal level of these reactions, however, was associated with cultures exposed to a carcinogen. In addition, infrared examination of lipids revealed unique spectral characteristics for materials extracted from carcinogen-treated cultures. No difference was noted between materials derived from noncarcinogen-treated cultures and from control cultures.