Toxic effect of kerosene contamination on the survival of bacterial and fungal species in soil from Niger Delta, Southern Nigeria

Nseabasi N. O and Antai S. P

Abstract

Bacterial species isolated from kerosene contaminated and pristine soil samples which included species of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Serratia and Micrococcus exhibited a percentage log-survival in the range of 2.52%-3.13% at a ten percent level of kerosene contamination. Other species isolated from pristine soil samples such as Streptococcus, Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus exhibited a percentage log-survival in the range of 29.47%-37.58% at the same level of kerosene contamination. Fungal species of Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Mucor and Rhizopus exhibited a percentage log-survival in the range of 4.41%-8.04% at a ten percent level of kerosene contamination. Toxic effect of kerosene in microbial composition gives useful information about their adaptability in pollution studies based on their ability to metabolize or resist the toxicant present.