Bioremediation Methodologies

Modern farming and agricultural operations contribute to the degradation and contamination of our environment as well as the neighboring ecosystems. Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, animal manure and other Argo-chemicals are rich in chemical nutrients and toxic substances which are often the major sources of agricultural pollution. The use of these various types of products can affect water quality when it rains, and the contaminated soils and water is washed into the waters or into ground waters. These chemicals can also be absorbed by plants which are then consumed by animals and even humans, harmful to animal and human health. There are many causes of this pollution.

Although the amount of pollutants from a single town or construction site may seem insignificant, the combined concentrations of contaminants threaten our lakes, streams and wetlands. When things such as: human and animal waste, decaying plants and animals, discarded litter, or food waste enter surface waters, either dissolved or suspended in stormwater runoff, they can deplete the supply of dissolved oxygen in the water. When dissolved oxygen is reduced below a certain critical level, it can impair or kill aquatic plants and animals (CNYRPDB, 2011).

41) A number of plants are currently being stydies for use in cleaning up land sites contanining toxic substances.

When the moisture, temperature, and nutrients are suitable, spores freed from a mushroom germinate into threads of cells called hyphae. As each hypha grows and branches, it forms connections with other hyphae from compatible spores to create mycelia, which mature, gathering nutrients and moisture (Stamets, 2005). The mycelia of the Stropharia rugoso-annulata, otherwise known as the garden giant, are bestowed upon the title of mycoremediator. Its mycelia secrete enzymes such as manganese dependent peroxidase, an enzyme that mineralizes wood and is particularly efficient in breaking hydrocarbon bonds; this mineralization indicates a complete breakdown of the PAHs (Morelli et al. 2012). This fungus has been proven to modify soil permeability and soil ion exchange and to detoxify contaminated soil. It has been identified as one of the most efficient degraders of PAHs among the litter-decomposing fungi, with reductions of up to 70%, 86% and 84% of benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene respectively (Steffen et al, 2007). The garden giant also remediates the soil by consuming the harmful bacteria that hinders plant

Another common remediation technique is stabilization or solidification which aims to alter the contaminants into a less soluble or mobile form (Wuana and Okieimen, 2011; Mulligan, Yong, and Gibbs, 2001; United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). In both methods water and a site-specific chemical solution is mixed into the soil to either alter its physical - make it less soluble - or chemical - reduce mobility - properties to make it less likely that the contaminants will move into other locations or be inhaled (Wuana and Okieimen, 2011; Mulligan, Yong, and Gibbs, 2001). Chemical treatment can also fall under the umbrella term of stabilization. Chemical treatment is add chemical solutions to the soil to detoxify the soil and can be used as a pre-treatment for other techniques such as solidification (Wuana and Okieimen, 2011; Mulligan, Yong, and Gibbs, 2001). These techniques are typically preferred due to lower costs but other physical elements of the soil, such as boulders, can make mixing the soil difficult and the process can volatilize and release volatile compounds (Mulligan, Yong, and Gibbs, 2001; United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). Mobility of contaminants can also be reduced by using the technique of vitrification through the process of heating up the soil (Wuana and Okieimen, 2011; United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1991). This method results

Due to policy changes after 1995, environmental impacts on animals have been minimized, but the lake continues to rise. If the treatment plant fails to operate correctly, the polluted water will leak out and damage various local ecosystems. However, even the toxic water in the pit may yield unexpected benefits. Microorganisms surviving in the lake could lead to new drugs. A species of “Penicillium fungi exudes an acid that is active against ovarian cancer cells,” and other microbes produce substances effective against lung cancers in preliminary tests (Arnst, 2006). Science is developed through adversity and Berkeley Pit Lake has continued to pioneer advancements in technology used to reclaim polluted

Reinhold, D., Vishwanathan, S., Park, JJ., Oh, D., Saunders, FM. 2010. Assessment of plant-driven removal of emerging organic pollutants by duckweed. Chemosphere [Internet]. [Cited 2015 Nov 15] 80(7) Available from: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0045653510006363

Fruitvale was a perfect town. There was a nice creek (Strawberry Creek) that dogs and children could play in and a very good diner that families could eat out at. Fruitvale was a mini fairy-tale land, until they hit reality. Fruitvale was recently contaminated by a No-Bug Pesticide that farmers had been using to get rid of the bugs eating their crops. Twelve wells were tested and the No-Bug Pesticide had not contaminated the Fruitvale Municipal Water Well yet. After one year, we tested all of the wells again to see how far the contaminant has spread. We have found that Fruitvale has approximately three years to get Fruitvale de-contaminated. We want to keep the cost at a minimum and all of the Fruitvale residents safe. To meet these goals, we hypothesize that bioremediation would be the most efficient way to accomplish the following task of making Fruitvale a safe

Remediating Agricultural Water Contamination: Problem, Solution, and Barriers Paper Student Name COMM 2367 MWF 9:10 Instructor Name September 29, 2012

The clean up phase of the railroad avenue site has used solvent flushing for enhanced in-situ bioremediation in hot spot PCE zones and dissolved-phase plume. The site is also monitored at least

Contaminated land has been perceived as the occurrence of relatively rare, but potentially catastrophic incidents, with unforeseen and poorly understood consequences for human health, communities (Verplanken, 1990) and the environment, for example Barnes et al (2002); Levine (1982). Currently, contamination represents a widespread infrastructural problem of varied intensity and significance (Nathanail, 2004). Mass industrialisation and the technological advancements seen throughout much of Europe and North America during the 20th century can be characterised by disproportionately large increase in emissions of contaminants into the environment, where soil is often the ultimate sink

All around the world, countries are fighting to keep their drinking water clean. Whether it’s streams, rivers, or lakes, countries have taken great measures to maintain high quality drinking water for both human consumption and animal consumption. Countries must first understand the sources of the polltion, then determine the best methods to eliminate the pollution. Clean drinking water is a valuable resource and a the key to human survival. Plants and animals also depend on water for their growth, so all water must be kept clean. The major contributors to water pollution can be classified in three categories, industrial, agricultural and municipal.

It depends on where the toxin is being dumped in/onto that concludes whether my plant is a good or bad bioremediator--making it inconclusive. It may work better when it comes to cleaning up toxins from the water, but not as good as it would on land. I don’t have enough results to confirm my claim(but I have enough to support it), so I'll need to conduct more experiments to actually confirm my claim just so that I am thorough. From the data in the graph in the results section, it showed that the Juncea plant with the toxins in the water actually didn’t die and actually grew, but if you look at my plant with the toxins in the soil it ended up dying on day number 12. This made me think: does the Brassica Juncea be a better option to clean up toxins depending where the toxin is dumped on/into.

2015). Yet, agricultural soils are moderately contaminated by heavy metals due to a long-term of phosphoric fertilizers use, sewage sludge application, dust from smelters, industrial waste and unsuitable watering practices (Yadav 2010). Soil contamination is mainly located in areas of large industrial activities, where surrounding agricultural areas are affected by atmospheric deposition of heavy metals (Puschenreiter et al. 2005). In these areas, agriculture faces a major problem due to heavy metal transfer into crops and subsequently into the food chain (Puschenreiter et al. 2005). The main problem is that heavy metals are non-biodegradable, and their excessive accumulation in agricultural soils could pose a risk to public health (Liu et al. 2012). Thereby, people pay increased attention to food safety because of increasing environmental contamination (Yu et al. 2014). The major route by which humans are exposed to these contaminants is through the soil-crop-food pathway (Liu et al. 2012). Crops growing on contaminated sites can take up and accumulate these metals, causing health problems when consumed by humans and animals (Fu et al., 2008). Therefore, the prolonged consumption of unsafe concentrations of heavy metals may lead to the disruption of numerous biological and biochemical processes in the human body (Balkhair and Ashraf 2015). Furthermore, heavy metals

Phytoremediation is the process by which plants and trees are used to remove or stabilize hazardous pollutants that exist in soil, sediments, surface water or groundwater. The EPA (environmental protection agency) estimates that more than 30,000 sites in the U.S. are in need of environmental treatment, and a great number of these sites are contaminated with highly toxic metals. Abandoned or under-used commercial and industrial facilities, termed as “brownfields,” are a major contributor to this environment concern. “Brownfields” pose significant health risks to nearby residential populations and threaten the plant and animal life close to them. Phytoremediation provides a very