Applications of Bioremediation and Emerging Trends in Bioremediation

2. Soil and ground water contamination and remediation

Contamination of soil and groundwater is a common environmental problem brought on by mining, industrial operations, inappropriate waste disposal, and unintentional spills.

 Ecosystems and human health are seriously threatened by these pollutants, which include heavy metals, petroleum products, explosives, and newly discovered chemicals like PFOA.

To address these issues, numerous remediation techniques have been created, each with unique benefits and drawbacks.

Contaminant Types and Sources
Heavy Metals: Lead, chromium, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury are prevalent soil and groundwater contaminants, generally arising from industrial, mining, and waste disposal activities. The source (natural vs. manmade) determines pollution levels and remedial choices

Pollutants that are organic: Oil spills, military operations, and industrial mishaps all contribute to the contamination of areas with petroleum hydrocarbons, coal tar, and explosives (TNT, RDX)

Emerging Pollutants: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and similar compounds are increasingly recognized for their persistence and toxicity

Remediation technologies for metal-contaminated soils and groundwater

Cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc are considered the most hazardous.The atmosphere, runoff, lithosphere, and industrial and household wastewater are all sources of metals. The heavy metals return to the environment after passing through the municipal waste treatment plant, where they remain persistent, are incapable of biodegradation, and can therefore travel in a variety of ways. The metals can leak into groundwater, a crucial supply of drinking water, or adsorb onto the soil and wash into rivers or lakes. Animals, plants, and people can accumulate heavy metals if they are exposed through food, drinking water, or both (especially when water is reused). Animals and plants may change or go extinct as a result of this phenomena.