What Is The Environmental Clean Meup Process?

Rain washes the pesticides that are used in our Australians households and then become run-off in drains and sewers. They then make their way into nearby water bodies, wether that be creeks, rivers or even oceans and settle within the soil by sticking to small particles, including tiny living organisms like phytoplankton (M. Barwick, 2003, pp. 471-502). Small fish consume these tiny organisms, which may then be eaten by a larger organism and this continues until the top order consumer is reached. The concentration that first began in the phytoplankton and has multiplied sufficiently as it moves along the food chain. The amount of the pesticide has reached a highly toxic level in the top order predator, whether that is birds or even humans. As a result of the biomagnification of pesticides and other chemical the marine environment and the organisms that live within it are heavily affected. The build up of heavy metals, for example, it interferes with the formation of red blood cells, creates liver and kidney implications and forms reproductive defects in many organisms. This hinders an organism’s ability to survive and reproduce and can create a decline in species

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.

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

The EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) are helping by conducting cleanups at sites where hazardous chemicals have been released into the environment. These cleanups take place at abandoned waste sights, federal facilities, and where any storage tanks have leaked. Cleanups may also include the reuse of sites and redevelopment of natural habitats. The greatest EPA cleanup program is called the Superfund program. This program locates, investigates and cleans hazardous waste sites throughout the US.

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

The chemical pesticides used in farming affect the quality of water because of run off which then go into lakes or rivers. In chapter four, Carson concentrates on the water pollution caused by pesticides. The pollution can be unsafe for use and causes fish to die. An example used is a study done by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service in 1960 that showed that “our waters have become almost universally contaminated with insecticides.” (pg.41) The pesticides are especially threatening to groundwater which is an important source of drinking water for humans. Consequently, the chemicals in pesticides can cause cancer and other harm effects on our health. Another issue is that the pesticides in water and can mix with other chemicals and become a new chemical. Therefore, it can lead to the creation of an unknown chemical with harmful

"It is not possible to add pesticides to water anywhere without threatening the purity of water everywhere. Seldom if ever does Nature operate in closed and separate compartments, and she has not done so in distributing the earth's water supply" (Carson 42).

The cost would vary from two hundred to four hundred million dollars. Also, because bioremediation does not use hard labor or equipment, the cost is lower. This is a very low price compared to the other options. Option A, Pumping and Treatment of All Contaminated Water, would cost four hundred to six hundred dollars and Option B, Excavation of Earth Materials from the Plume Area, would cost six hundred to eight hundred dollars. Option D, Permeable Reactive Barrier, and Option E, Prohibition of All Pumping From The Contaminated Aquifer, would only cost one hundred to two hundred dollars, but Option D has too many risks and Option E would take twentyfive to thirty years. The time limit is also a big factor of what cleanup plan we would use. Bioremediation will only take 3-4 years. The contaminant is spreading at twelve and a half meters per month and we predict the contaminant will reach the Municipal Water Well in three to four years, so bioremediation will be the perfect amount of

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

Air stripping removes contaminants by pumping contaminated water and evaporating the bad chemicals. However, it can take up to a year to have any effect on cleaning the water (Safewater). Activated carbon filtration bring pollutants through its system and collects them, but it needs to be changed frequently, have the possibility of taking a long time to work, and are very expensive (Safewater). Bioremediation is using microorganism to digest contaminants, but again has the possibility of taking a long time, yet is very inexpensive (Safewater). Phytoremediation involves using plants and trees to remove contaminants with their roots and is all natural, but it takes a very long time and the various plants or trees that are introduced can have negative effects on the ecosystems (Safewater). Wetlands and algae is similar to phytoremediation and is already used in wetland habitats for the same purpose of pollution removal. Lastly, chemical oxidation uses oxidants to change harmful chemicals into less harmful chemicals in a semi-timely manner, but it is expensive. Comparatively, Asiatic clams are easy to collect due to their prominence in many bodies of water from past human transport and easy to

One concern about pesticides and herbicide usage is the amount of residues left on the end product of crops sprayed with the chemicals, and their effects on human health. (Williamson, 2007, p. 184). However, these effects are closely tested and levels are strictly regulated to ensure there is no danger from possible pesticide residues. Since 1910, many rules, regulations, and agencies have been formed to monitor the safety of the pesticides and herbicides used in conventional farming. These chemicals must meet specific safety standards in order to be registered for use, and regulations on levels of each product safe for use are also put in place. (Tafel et al.,2007, p.184). All pesticides are rigorously examined to ensure they have no significant effects on human health, or the environment. The residues in the food chain are closely monitored, and regularly tested, to ensure they are below legal limits. In a recent survey of residues

The environmental contamination is a most important universal problem in present scenario. Diverse use of pesticides in agricultural usage causes to numerous environmental problems. These pesticide residues in drinking water lead to increasing concern in health prospect. Vast usage of some pesticides contributes to contamination of water bodies mostly, surface and ground water sources. Misuse, accidental spillage, and improper disposal have resulted in extensive groundwater pollution (Edgehill et al., 1982). Chlorophenols such as penta-chlorophenol (PCP) and tetrachloropenol (TeCP) and their salts, are broad spectrum biocides that have been used in agriculture, industry and public health since the 1920s, and are designated as priority pollutants in the list of hazardous wastes [Zheng, et al., 2004]. Several toxic chemical, agrochemical and pharmaceutical industries are discharging poisonous effluents without appropriate treatment. These hazardous wastes are potential threat to human and animal life. Trace amounts of organochlorine pesticides present in water and wastewater are the almost difficult to separate from water. Therefore there is a demand for the efficient removal of organic effluents from aqueous phase.

Pollution is one of the world’s leading problems. One contributing pollutant is plastic. One such pollutant is plastic; which contributes to 40% of the oceans surfaces being contaminated, and makes up 10% of the overall waste produced by humans (D’Alessandro). This problem of accumulating plastic waste gradually increases with time as all plastic that has ever been produced is still around in one way or another; for plastic takes between 450-1000 year to decompose ( Roth). Thankfully the solution is a fungus. The process that should be used to break down plastic in mass quantities is fungi mutarium.

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

This study also shows that Zea mays did better in the polluted soil left for six months than in the polluted soil left for three months and than the soil polluted and immediately planted on. This confirms that with time, natural biodegradation occur and the kerosene polluted environment has ability to purify itself, if and only if the source of pollutant is not intermittent.