Low-temperature MTBE biodegradation in aquifer sediments with a history of low, seasonal ground water temperatures

Sediments from two shallow, methyl tert‐butyl ether (MTBE)–contaminated aquifers, with mean ground water temperatures ∼10°C, demonstrated significant mineralization of [U‐¹⁴C] MTBE to ¹⁴CO₂ at incubation temperatures as low as 4°C. These results indicate that microbial degradation can continue to contribute to the attenuation of MTBE in ground water under wintertime, low‐temperature conditions.