Syllabus: GS3/Environment
Context
- India urgently needs bioremediation to restore polluted ecosystems, and ensure sustainable urban development, as over 16 lakh tonnes of legacy waste.
What is Bioremediation?
- It means ‘restoring life through biology’. It uses living organisms — bacteria, fungi, algae, and plants — to break down or neutralize pollutants such as oil, plastics, and heavy metals.
- These microorganisms feed on toxic substances, metabolizing them into harmless by-products like water, carbon dioxide, or organic acids.
- In some cases, they can transform hazardous metals into stable, non-toxic forms that no longer leach into soil or groundwater.
Types of Bioremediation
- In-situ Bioremediation: Treatment occurs directly at the contaminated site.
- For instance, oil-eating bacteria can be sprayed on ocean spills to break down petroleum residues.
- Ex-situ Bioremediation: Contaminated material is removed and treated in controlled facilities before being returned to the environment.
Modern Advances in Bioremediation
- The field now blends traditional microbiology with biotechnology:
- Genetically Modified (GM) Microbes: These are engineered to degrade resistant pollutants like plastics or petroleum byproducts.
- Synthetic Biology: It has introduced biosensing organisms that signal the presence of toxins through fluorescence or color changes.
- Molecular Tools: These enable scientists to identify, replicate, and optimize biomolecules for specific applications in sewage plants, industrial sites, or farms.
Why India Needs Bioremediation?
- Industrial Growth: India’s industrial growth has come at the expense of its ecosystems.
- Rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna remain burdened with untreated sewage and industrial effluents.
- Oil spills, pesticide residues, and heavy metals endanger both nature and human health.
- Sustainable & Low-cost Alternative: Conventional cleanup methods are costly, energy-intensive, and inefficient, often creating secondary pollution.
- Bioremediation offers a sustainable, low-cost alternative that can be applied at scale.
- India’s rich biodiversity provides an advantage: native microbes adapted to extreme local conditions (like high salinity or temperature) can outperform imported species in restoring contaminated environments.
India’s Bioremediation Push: Current Efforts
- Department of Biotechnology (DBT): It promotes research through its Clean Technology Programme, fostering collaborations among universities, industries, and public labs.
- CSIR-National Environmental Engineering Research Institute (NEERI): It leads national efforts in designing and testing bioremediation projects.
- The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has issued guidelines for scientific remediation of legacy waste.
- The Swachh Bharat Mission 2.0 mandates cities to clear all legacy waste using bioremediation or biomining.
- IIT Researchers have developed cotton-based nanocomposites to absorb oil spills and discovered bacteria capable of breaking down industrial pollutants.
- Startups such as Biotech Consortium India Limited (BCIL) and Econirmal Biotech are offering microbial formulations for wastewater and soil remediation.
Related Challenges
- Lack of site-specific data, complex pollutant mixtures, and fragmented regulations without unified national standards.
- Uncontrolled release of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) could disrupt ecosystems.
- Weak biosafety and containment systems may lead to new environmental hazards.
- Public resistance may emerge without awareness and transparent monitoring
Way Forward
- India needs to establish robust biosafety guidelines, certification systems, and training programs for personnel, to mitigate the risks. It includes:
- National Standards: Establish clear, science-based protocols for microbial use and site management.
- Regional Hubs: Link universities, industries, and local governments to address area-specific contamination issues.
- Startup Support: Encourage innovation through DBT–BIRAC and local community initiatives.
- Public Awareness: Educate citizens about microbes as allies in environmental restoration, not threats.
| Other Effective Methods Used To Restore Polluted Ecosystems – Phytoremediation: It involves using plants to absorb or neutralize contaminants, especially in heavy metal-laden soils and wetlands. – Mycoremediation: It employs fungi to break down organic pollutants, especially in oil-contaminated soils. – Vermiremediation: It uses earthworms to detoxify and stabilize contaminated soils, improving fertility and structure. – Bioaugmentation: It involves adding specific strains of microbes to accelerate the degradation of pollutants. – Electrokinetic Remediation: It uses electric fields to mobilize and extract heavy metals or organic pollutants from soil.Nanoremediation: It applies nanoparticles to degrade or immobilize contaminants, especially in groundwater. – Monitored Natural Attenuation (MNA): It relies on natural processes (e.g., microbial activity, dilution) to reduce pollution over time, with regular monitoring. |
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