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Ecological indicators and biological resources for hydrocarbon rhizoremediation in a protected area

Summary

A gasoline pipeline spill contaminated a protected nature area in Italy, threatening rare fish species. Scientists tested whether plants and natural bacteria could clean up the pollution. They found that corn and sunflower plants, combined with bacteria from the soil, could remove about 70-80% of the petroleum pollution in just 38 days. The study showed this approach could successfully restore the protected area without expensive chemical treatments.

Background

Oil spillage from refineries, pipelines, and service stations causes soil, groundwater, and food contamination. A protected area in the Po Valley (Lombardy, Italy) was contaminated by a gasoline spill from a damaged pipeline, affecting approximately 10,000 m² including fields, groundwater, and wetland ditches with rare endemic species.

Objective

To assess the feasibility of bacterial-assisted phytoremediation as a sustainable bioremediation solution for hydrocarbon contamination in a protected area by evaluating ecological indicators, plant phytoremediation potential, and microbial degradation capacity.

Results

TPH concentrations exceeded legal limits in most soil samples, with C>12 reaching 20,459 mg/kg at the spring shore. Diatom analysis revealed morphological alterations and presence of Ulnaria species indicating hydrocarbon pollution. Both plant species achieved 71-82% TPH removal in mesocosms. Bacterial strains isolated showed hydrocarbon degradation ability and plant growth promoting traits.

Conclusion

The study demonstrated that bacterial-assisted rhizoremediation is feasible for the protected area, with native microbial communities and local plants capable of hydrocarbon degradation. Functional genes encoding degradative enzymes were enriched in rhizosphere soils, supporting implementation of sustainable bioremediation to recover the contaminated site.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology,
  • Study Type:Field Study,
  • Source: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1379947; PMID: 38681962
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