Bacteria associated with TCE contaminated groundwater sediment at NASA Ames Research Center

NASA Ames Research Center is a designated Superfund site due to high levels of Trichloroethylene (TCE) in campus groundwater. TCE is the most common contaminant found at Superfund sites (Freeborn et al., 2005) and is a toxic chemical hazardous to both the environment and human health. NASA has chosen Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA) as the means of remediation of TCE. I conducted a bacterial survey of campus groundwater sediment samples from several wells and sites to begin to assess the merit of following MNA of TCE. In this study, I found known TCE-degrading bacteria, such as Dehalococcoides mccartyi, Desulfomonile limimaris and Pelobacter acetylenicus. I also found bacteria that support TCE degradation and are capable of utilizing nitrogen, iron, sulfur, and methane. Those bacteria are also consistent with reported natural breakdown of TCE at a contaminated site (Leeson et al., 2004). While additional studies are needed to determine the efficacy of MNA at NASA Ames, bacteria that utilize TCE are present and could possibly be manipulated to accelerate the process.