Why are bacteria and other microorganism used to fight pollution?

Answer 1

Bacteria have an amazing ability to adapt to almost any food source. Scientists expose bacteria to soils rich in various pollutants and eventually one or more decide they can use it as food and multiply. The scientists culture this bacterial strain until they have marketable quantities then sow them into contaminated soil at a spill or other polluted site. The bacteria eat at the contamination until it is all gone.

In sewage treatment plants bacteria have been eating waste water contaminants for years, Normal bacteria eat sewage but in industrial waste there are often organic poisons that would kill normal microbes. They adapt however and eventually are happily eating phenols and oils. Refineries often swap bacterial colonies to meet start-up colonization of their treatment systems.

Answer 2

Bacteria and other microorganisms are used to fight pollution because they have the ability to break down and metabolize pollutants, turning harmful substances into less harmful compounds. This process, called bioremediation, can help clean up polluted sites more sustainably and cost-effectively compared to traditional methods. Additionally, some microorganisms can remove pollutants from water, air, and soil without producing additional harmful byproducts.

Answer 3

For the same reason they help to recycle leaves and twigs- they eat the pollutants and release friendlier forms of chemicals into the environment in a process called decomposition.

Answer 4

Bioremediation.