JRC Blue Seminars - Metals and microbes

A seminar entitled "From physiological mechanism studies of metal interactions with microbes to the interpretation of environmental processes" will be held in Ispra, Italy, on 11 November 1997. The seminar, which is part of the Joint Research Centre's "Blue Seminars" on aquatic processes and water technology, will be led by Dr. Franco Baldi from the Department of Environmental Biology of the University of Sienna (Italy).

The seminar will examine interactions between metals and microbes, in particular the effect of microbes on the reduction of metal toxicity, based on studies carried out at the "Pialasse de Ravenna", a salt marsh at Marina de Ravenna (Italy). Despite years of contamination by mercury from a chemical plant for aldheide production, the Hg levels in this area are lower than would be expected. The theory is that sulfate reducing bacteria have played an important role in naturally detoxifying the area and reducing the availability of Hg.

The Blue Seminar series serves as an open forum for discussion on the management of water resources in Europe. The seminars will also contribute to the work of the Task Force on water technologies, established by the Commission.
For further information, please contact:

European Commission
Joint Research Centre
Dr. Giovanni Bidoglio
Environment Institute
I-21020 Ispra (VA)
Tel. +39-332-789383
E-mail: giovanni.bidoglio@jrc.it