What is bioremediation and give an example of its application in water pollution cleanup?

• A. The use of chemical oxidants to neutralize contaminants.
• B. The use of microorganisms to degrade pollutants; example: hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria deployed to assist oil spill cleanup.
• C. Sedimentation and filtration to remove pollutants.
• D. The use of sunlight to evaporate pollutants.

Answer: (B)

Bioremediation relies on living microorganisms to break down pollutants into less harmful substances, using their natural metabolic processes to convert contaminants into CO2, water, and biomass. In water pollution cleanup, this means boosting or introducing microbes that can consume the pollutants present. The example of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria deployed to assist oil spill cleanup illustrates this: these microbes feed on the oil components, accelerating their degradation when conditions such as oxygen and nutrients are adequate. This approach can be done in place, minimizes disturbance, and can be cost-effective and environmentally friendly when the contaminant type is biodegradable and the environment supports microbial activity. It’s important to note that effectiveness depends on the pollutant’s nature, temperature, oxygen levels, and available nutrients, and some contaminants biodegrade slowly or not at all.