Microorganisms in metal- and radionuclide-contaminated environments and potential nuclear waste disposals

Microorganisms in a soil sample from the uranium mining waste Johanngeorgenstadt, Germany and an Opalinus clay sample from the Mont Terri rock laboratory were investigated by culture-independent and culture-dependent methods. In addition, the interactions of an Arthrobacter sp. from the uranium mining waste and a Sporomusa sp. clay isolate with Uranium(VI) will be shown. The studies demonstrated that different microorganisms are present in these two different environments and in both cases indigenous microorganisms have the potential to interact with heavy metals and uranium.