The presence of heavy metals in mud bordering the middle zone of Bogotá and Tunjuelo rivers, from industrial waste, has influenced and permeated the soil quality in the Bogotá plateau. This is reflected in small concentrations present in plants used for human consumption, causing adverse health effects. The biotransformation of these metals is possible due to the presence of some inorganic molecules and microorganisms capable of interacting, changing its bioavailability in the middle. In this investigation we determined the concentration of chromium, lead, and mercury by the atomic absorption technique, much used in the quantitative study of heavy metals. Microorganisms are exposed to the presence of heavy metals, which select variants able to tolerate its adverse effects. The study of these interactions, their mechanisms of tolerance, exposes the potential for use in biotechnological processes such as bioremediation of environmental pollution by heavy metals. Through laboratory experiments, strains were able to be extracted by direct culture and selective enrichment and determine their degree of commitment to biotransformation and bioavailability of metals like chromium, lead, and mercury, concluding that one gender is more committed Micrococci, followed by Pseudomonas, without daring to mention more species due to the complexity and varieties identified in the environment.
keywords:
Atomic absorption, bioavailability, biotransformation, heavy metals, xenobiotics
