This pathway was contributed by Lynda Ellis , University of Minnesota. In some groundwater, they undergo reductive dechlorination catalyzed by anaerobic bacteria that yields vinyl chloride, a potent human carcinogen. Removal by dumping or air stripping is now largely disallowed and this has focused efforts on biological methods of PCE and TCE remediation in soil and water.
Anaerobic pathways are less well-understood.
The following is a text-format anerobic tetrachloroethene pathway map. Organisms which can initiate the pathway are given, but other organisms may also carry out later steps. Follow the links for more information on compounds or reactions. Dehalococcoides ethenogenes 195 Dehalospirillum multivorans Sporomusa ovata Dehalobacter restrictus TEA Desulfitobacterium sp. All rights reserved.