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Anaerobic Degradation of the Insecticide Lindane by Clostridium sp.

Nature volume 221, pages 859–860 (1969)Cite this article

Abstract

MANY chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticides commonly used in agriculture for pest control persist for extended periods in soils, and therefore generate problems of environmental pollution. For example, in certain circumstances, lindane (γ-isomer of hexachlorocyclohexane or γ-BHC) is known to persist in soil for periods of up to 11 yr1. Such lengthy persistence has been attributed in part to the inability of the soil microflora to attack the insecticide molecule2.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Microbiology, University of Queensland, Brisbane

    I. C. MACRAE

  2. Department of Biology, University of Houston, Texas

    K. RAGHU

  3. Department of Soil Microbiology, International Rice Research Institute, Los Baños, Philippines

    E. M. BAUTISTA

Authors
  1. I. C. MACRAE
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  2. K. RAGHU
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  3. E. M. BAUTISTA
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MACRAE, I., RAGHU, K. & BAUTISTA, E. Anaerobic Degradation of the Insecticide Lindane by Clostridium sp.. Nature 221, 859–860 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1038/221859a0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/221859a0

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