[Effect of water pollution by oil and oil products on barrier functions of bacterial cell cytoplasmic membranes].

The effects of oil, diesel fuel, and kerosene on the electroorientational spectra and osmo-optical characteristics of bacterial cells were studied. Electroorientational spectra were found to be affected over the entire frequency range studied; changes in low-frequency (< 100 kHz) electroorientation were related to alterations in the cell surface, and those in high-frequency electroorientation, to the impairment of the barrier function of the plasma membrane. The membranotropic activity of petroleum products was also demonstrated by the osmo-optical method. Of nine bacterial species studied, Pseudomonas fluorescens VKM B-894, P. oleovorans VKM B-1522, and P. stutzeri VKM B-903 were most susceptible to the membranotropic action of kerosene; P. putida VKM B-1292 was the most resistant. Other bacterial strains studied were moderately sensitive.