Air pollution and microbial ecology

This manuscript represents a detailed review of the literature pertaining to the interactions of and inter-relationships between atmospheric pollution and microorganisms. The review was composed in such a manner as to stress the effects of pollution upon microbial ecology. The first section presents a brief introduction of the general concepts of atmospheric pollution. The following areas are discussed: abiotic and biotic natural sources of pollution; anthropogenic sources of pollution; sinks and scavenging mechanisms; pollution chemistry; pollution interactions, e.g., the relationship of air pollution to pollution of the lithosphere and hydrosphere. A detailed discussion of the microbial aspects of atmospheric pollution is also presented. The third section is devoted to analyzing, with reference to microbiology and ecology, the effects of pollutants on microbes. The variety of different techniques that have been used to study the effects of atmospheric contaminants upon microorganisms is described. This is followed by a detailed discussion of the effects of air pollution of microbial growth, morphology, reproductive capacity, and interactions. Also presented are subsections of subtle ecological resultants of air pollution such as effects of air pollution on biogeochemical cycling, effects on energy flow through the biosphere and on food webs, effects on cancer. Special subsections aremore » devoted to lichens, airborne microbes, and air ions. The concluding section presents the effects on naturally occurring volatiles on the ecology, growth characteristics, and reproductive capacity of microorganisms and on their interactions. 540 references, 3 figures, 8 tables.« less