Biomarkers of oil-type pollutants in surface soil

In this paper, biomarkers were applied for identification of oil-type pollutants in surface soil and their microbial changes were investigated. Samples were taken at destroyed fuel storage in Nis (Yugoslavia). Steranes, and triterpanes were used for identification and differentiation of oil-type pollutants in surface soil. n-Alkanes were found to be affected by biodegradation and biosynthesis of "new" even-carbon numbered homologues was observed. Both processes showed differences in intensity, even if layer distances were as small as 25 cm