The breakdown of sodium O,O-diethyl dithiophosphate (O,O-diethyl phosphorodithioate) by four bacterial strains (tentatively identified as strains of Aeromonas, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium and Bacillus) isolated from contaminated metalworking fluids was shown to involve the successive formation of ethanol, aldehyde and orthophosphate. An acid phosphodiesterase was identified in cell-free extracts that was five- to sevenfold enhanced in specific activity in bacteria grown on O,O-diethyl dithiophosphate as sole phosphorus source, compared with bacteria grown on orthophosphate. This is thought to initiate the breakdown process.
