Bioremediation as a Biotechnology

Bioremediation is a relatively modern technology in the field of applied microbiology.  It applies the use of microorganisms to remove organic matter such as toxic chemicals in a particular area.  Basically, in a contaminated environment, some microorganisms will die and some will survive.  The surviving microorganisms are enhanced to multiply and they will break down the organic pollutant.

In its most basic sense, biotechnology is the use of living organisms or their products to modify human health and the human environment.  As stated above, bioremediation involves the use of microorganisms to modify the polluted state of the environment as caused by a toxic pollutant.

This form of biotechnology is highly beneficial to petroleum industries, especially in the event of an oil spill.  Several recorded instances include the massive leak that came from a military fuel storage facility in 1975 and seeped into the groundwater table of the residential area the contamination has reached a serious level in 1985.  Bioremediation was employed as a means to contain the contamination, but eventually they discovered that it can do more than that the contamination was reduced to 75 in 1993.  Moreover, the scientist detected no more contamination in the ground water.

As of the present, Bioremediation is making its name in the formal industry.  However, the organic pollutants that bioremediation can re-mediate is limited heavy metals like cadmium or lead cannot be easily absorbed by microorganisms.  Moreover, it might prove to be al the more dangerous if these microorganisms bioaccumulate with mercury and is introduced into the food chain.

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