Environmental contamination – Page 2

Influence of pH on the biodegradation efficiency of fats, oils, and grease by biosurfactant-producing bacterial consortia

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Grease buildup in kitchen pipes and sewers causes blockages and infrastructure damage. This research found that a combination of two bacteria can effectively break down fats and oils much better at acidic pH levels, particularly at pH 4. The bacteria produce natural surfactants that help dissolve the grease and special enzymes that degrade it into smaller molecules. This discovery suggests that making wastewater slightly more acidic could significantly improve grease removal in treatment systems.

Isolation of Fungi from a Textile Industry Effluent and the Screening of Their Potential to Degrade Industrial Dyes

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Researchers isolated six fungal strains from textile factory wastewater and tested their ability to remove industrial dyes. Two types of fungi, Emmia latemarginata and Mucor circinelloides, successfully broke down different synthetic dyes commonly used in textile production. The fungi produced specific enzymes that degraded the dyes, particularly when exposed to the dye itself or plant materials like wheat straw. These findings suggest these fungi could potentially be used to clean up colored wastewater from textile industries.

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

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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.

Effects of Long-Term Heavy Metal Pollution on Microbial Community Structure in Soil

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Heavy metals from mining operations contaminate farmland soil and reduce its quality. This research examined how different types of bacteria and fungi adapt to living in heavily polluted soil by collecting samples from a contaminated farm in China. The study found that specific microorganism species thrive in different levels of contamination and could potentially be used to help clean up polluted soils through natural biological processes.

Potential biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and petroleum hydrocarbons by indigenous fungi recovered from crude oil-contaminated soil in Iran

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Scientists isolated fungi from oil-contaminated soil in Iran to find species that can break down petroleum pollutants. Two fungi species, Alternaria tenuissima and Epicoccum nigrum, showed exceptional ability to degrade harmful oil compounds called PAHs. When applied to contaminated soil in the laboratory, these fungi successfully eliminated over 70% of the long-chain hydrocarbons. This research offers a natural and cost-effective way to clean up oil-spilled soil without using harsh chemicals.

Bioremediation of Landfill Leachate with Fungi: Autochthonous vs. Allochthonous Strains

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This research compared two approaches to cleaning landfill leachate using fungi: using fungi naturally found in the polluted water versus using well-studied fungi species from laboratory collections. Scientists tested how effectively these fungi could remove color and toxins from contaminated wastewater. The study found that both types of fungi worked reasonably well, but through different mechanisms—some fungi absorbed the pollutants while others chemically broke them down using special enzymes.

Bioremediation potential of low-brominated polybrominated diphenyl by the phyllospheric Wickerhamomyces anomalus

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Researchers discovered that a common yeast living on tree leaves can help remove harmful brominated chemicals (PBDEs) from the environment. By studying the genes this yeast uses to survive these toxic chemicals, scientists identified a key transport protein that could help plants better tolerate and accumulate these pollutants. This finding suggests that this yeast could be used as a biological tool to clean up areas contaminated with these persistent toxic chemicals.

Phytoremediation of Heavy Metal-Contaminated Soil Using Drought-Adapted Sweet Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L.) in Arid Regions of Kazakhstan

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Researchers found that sweet sorghum, a drought-tolerant crop, can effectively clean soil contaminated with toxic metals in Kazakhstan’s dry regions. By carefully selecting genotypes that were both adapted to harsh conditions and showed strong growth in laboratory tests, they demonstrated that the plants accumulate lead, cadmium, and cobalt primarily in their roots, making them safe for harvesting. This plant-based approach offers an affordable and environmentally friendly alternative to expensive traditional soil cleanup methods.

Biodegradation of BTEX by Bacteria Isolated From Soil Contaminated With Petroleum Sludge and Liquid and Solid Petrochemical Effluents

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Scientists isolated bacteria from oil-contaminated soil that can effectively break down BTEX chemicals, which are toxic pollutants from petroleum products. Two bacterial strains, Arthrobacter pascens and Bacillus sp., proved most effective at degrading these harmful compounds, removing over 80% within 12 days. These findings suggest these bacteria could be used to clean up contaminated sites naturally and cost-effectively.

Insights on Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 Responses to HCH Isomers: Tolerance, Degradation, and Dynamics on Potential lin Genes Expression

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This research examined how a type of cyanobacteria called Anabaena can help clean up contaminated areas by breaking down different forms of a harmful pesticide called HCH. The scientists found that Anabaena handles some forms of HCH better than others, completely eliminating certain types while only partially breaking down others. This discovery suggests that Anabaena could potentially be used in environmental cleanup projects to remove HCH pollution from water and soil.

Disease: Environmental contamination