Biotechnology in Environmental Science Objective 5.02: Understand biotechnology in the environmental science industry

Environmental Biotechnology Biotechnology is playing a large part in detecting and monitoring pollution and in how much is present. Biotechnology is playing a large part in detecting and monitoring pollution and in how much is present. It is also involved in solving other environmental problems It is also involved in solving other environmental problems

Examples Indicator species- lichens are widely used as environmental indicators or bio-indicators. Indicator species- lichens are widely used as environmental indicators or bio-indicators. If air is very badly polluted with sulfur dioxide, there may be no lichens present, just green algae may be found If air is very badly polluted with sulfur dioxide, there may be no lichens present, just green algae may be found

Examples Bioremediation - using bacteria to clean up oil and fuel spills Bioremediation - using bacteria to clean up oil and fuel spills Oleophilic (attracted to oil) bacteria used to clean up oil spills Oleophilic (attracted to oil) bacteria used to clean up oil spills Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 employed this technique Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989 employed this technique Hanahan, SC, a suburb of Charleston, had an 80,000 gallon jet fuel leak from a military fuel storage facility. Hanahan, SC, a suburb of Charleston, had an 80,000 gallon jet fuel leak from a military fuel storage facility. Fuel entered the ground and the groundwater Fuel entered the ground and the groundwater Bacteria were successfully used to remediate this problem Bacteria were successfully used to remediate this problem

Examples Biostimulation - The Exxon Valdez clean-up effort used the addition of nutrients to feed the oleophilic bacteria in this incident Biostimulation - The Exxon Valdez clean-up effort used the addition of nutrients to feed the oleophilic bacteria in this incident Biodiesel - is made from oilseeds such as soybean and canola oil and has been proven to decrease harmful emissions Biodiesel - is made from oilseeds such as soybean and canola oil and has been proven to decrease harmful emissions Genetic engineering - bacterial strains are under development to convert soil waste from humans and livestock into sugar and fuel Genetic engineering - bacterial strains are under development to convert soil waste from humans and livestock into sugar and fuel

Examples Phytoremediation - Oregon Poplar Site (illegal industrial waste dumping site) and J-Field at Aberdeen Proving Ground (disposal site of chemical warfare agents, munitions and industrial chemicals) in Maryland each used hybrid poplar trees to remove VOC’s ( volatile organic compounds ) from contaminated soil with success at each site Phytoremediation - Oregon Poplar Site (illegal industrial waste dumping site) and J-Field at Aberdeen Proving Ground (disposal site of chemical warfare agents, munitions and industrial chemicals) in Maryland each used hybrid poplar trees to remove VOC’s ( volatile organic compounds ) from contaminated soil with success at each site

Limitations of using bio and phytoremediation Time – often considered slower than chemical techniques Time – often considered slower than chemical techniques Applicability – they do not apply to all situations Applicability – they do not apply to all situations Fear – those who live near treatment sites often would rather have the contaminated soil removed than treated onsite Fear – those who live near treatment sites often would rather have the contaminated soil removed than treated onsite Fear is that the process will not uncontaminate the soil, or the organisms used will have a detrimental effect on the environment Fear is that the process will not uncontaminate the soil, or the organisms used will have a detrimental effect on the environment