The Bacterial Oxidation of Rubber

Abstract

Bacteria widely distributed in soil and sea water utilize rubber as food. Most of the organisms observed belong to the genus Actinomyces or to Proactinomyces. Rubber-oxidizing Mycobacterium and Pseudomonas were also isolated. The fact that many of these organisms were found on old pieces of rubber hose and in cracks in tires suggests that they may be partly responsible for rubber deterioration.