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FYREZYME MECHANISM OF ACTION Soil and its complex structure, microbial colonies, and biochemical makeup can accept and degrade into non- toxic forms, a wide variety of pollutants. There exists in nature microbial forms (bacteria, yeast, molds, etc.) which can biodegrade most agents which are noxious to the environment. These microbial agents have the capability to produce enzymes which lead to the breakdown (mineralization) of the polluting agents, transforming them into energy sources for the microbe's own metabolic use. This process continues until all that remains of the contaminant are CO2, H2O, and biomass (fatty acids which are used for energy source by other microorganisms). The biodegredation of contaminants can be accomplished both in oxygen-rich (aerobic) and in oxygen-poor (anaerobic) environments. The aerobic mineralization of contaminants is much faster and more complete than the anaerobic process. Both aerobic and anaerobic treatment may be necessan- in certain circumstances. At sites contaminated with petroleum product, a certain percentage of the overall bacterial population is capable of utilizing the petroleum products as a source for energy and growth. Having a readily available source of such preferred food, the petroleum-consuming bacteria are favored in the biological chain and increase in number at the expense of bacteria without that special capability. After the petroleum is eliminated from the soil (or water), the bacterial population returns to the same ratios present prior to the addition of a contaminant to their environment. There are multiple factors which determine the speed and completion of breakdown of contaminants in both soil and water. In this discussion, we shall consider the action of soil bacteria on petroleum contaminants. The limiting biological_ factors include, among others, -the type, concentration, and distribution of petroleum product (addressed in separate communication) -the presence of bacteria capable of digesting petroleum -the availability of energy sources for bacterial metabolism/gcwth -the availability of oxygen in sufficient quantity to support metabolism -the ability of bacteria to come into contact with the petroleum -the ability of the enhancing agent to come into contact with bacteria and petroleum -soil moisture level and pH(acidity or alkalinity) -temperature of soil environment Presence of Bacteria Capable of Digesting Petroleum: Even in the absence of recognized oil spills, there are naturally-occurring soil bacteria which are capable of altering their metabolic activities to allow them to digest petroleum. Their numbers are very small, but will increase readily in the presence of a petroleum-rich environment. Fy-reZyme preferentially increases petroleum-consuming bacteria by several orders of magnitude. By Darwinian selection, their growth is favored and their overall percentage within the microbial population increases dramatically.