Haloperoxidase-like activity in spruce forest soil — a source of volatile halogenated organic compounds?

Haloperoxidase-15:e activity was monitored in samples from a podzol soil in an uncontaminated spruce forest at Klosterhede, Denmark. Activity for the oxidation of chloride and bromide was found. The pH optima for chlorination and brontination ranged between pH 2.5 and 4. Very high activity, up to 4.4*103 mU kg−1 soil and 6.8* 103 mU kg−1 soil, respectively, was found in the surface layer. In the deeper soil layers, lower activity, between 1.5 – 23 mU kg−1 soil, was detected.