Marine Pollution And Microbial Remediation

Marine environment is the largest habitat covering approximately 70% of the total earth surface. Oceans are the main regulatory agent of earth’s climate and harbour a huge diversity of living organisms. Marine environment provide a unique ecological niche to different microbes which play a significant role in nutrient recycling as well as various environmental activities. However with rapid industrialization, urbanisation, ship trafficking and mining activities enormous amounts of waste including heavy metals, hydrocarbons, chemicals, dyes, organic load, agriculture waste, pesticides, antifoulants (e.g. tributyltin) and bacterial pathogens have accumulated in marine/estuarine environments over several decades and pose a serious threat to marine macro and micro biota and humans and therefore require special attention. However some natural marine microbes are known to possess diverse resistance mechanisms and degradation pathways to variety of toxic pollutants and these unique characteristics of marine/estuarine bacteria proved to be an ideal tool in bioremediation of contaminated marine and estuarine environmental sites. Reclamation of marine polluted environments using marine microbes has been found to be effective, affordable and ecofriendly technological solution over conventional physical and chemical methods. Objective of this book is focus on marine pollution and application of marine microorganisms in cost effective and ecofriendly methods of pollution abatement.

Increased industrialization and urbanization has polluted the marine environment, the largest ecosystem. Hence, sincere efforts must be made to decontaminate marine ecosystem for sustainable use of oceans and their bioresources. Microbial population in the marine environment plays a very crucial role in degrading, transforming and detoxifying the pollutants. This book presents contributions from leading scientists across the globe who have worked extensively on polluted marine ecosystem in removal of pollutants, mycoremediation of salinity ingressed soils, etc. This book will be useful to the scientific community, stake holders and policy makers involved in research related to environmental microbiology and marine microbiology in particular. The book will also be of benefit to the student community interested in marine microbial bioremediation.

The massive Exxon Valdez oil spill prompted the Nation to take steps to improve its capability to fight oil spills. This background paper evaluates the state of knowledge in 1991 and assesses the potential of bioremediation (BR) for responding to marine oil spills. Chapters: Summary and Findings; The Fate of Oil in the Marine Environment; Biodegradation and the Chemical Nature of Petroleum; Microbial Processes and the Degradation of Petroleum; Environmental Influences on Biodegradation; General Advantages and Disadvantages of BR; Alternative BR Technologies; Environmental and Health Issues; BR in Relation to Other Response Technologies; BR Activities in the Public and Private Sectors; Regulatory Issues. Glossary. Charts and tables.

Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation: Techniques and Case Studies for Environmental Pollution, Second Edition describes the successful application of microbes and their derivatives for bioremediation of potentially toxic and relatively novel compounds in the environment. Our natural biodiversity and environment is in danger due to the release of continuously emerging potential pollutants by anthropogenic activities. Though many attempts have been made to eradicate and remediate these noxious elements, thousands of xenobiotics of relatively new entities emerge every day, thus worsening the situation. Primitive microorganisms are highly adaptable to toxic environments, and can reduce the load of toxic elements by their successful transformation and remediation. This completely updated new edition presents many new technologies and techniques and includes theoretical context and case studies in every chapter. Microbial Biodegradation and Bioremediation: Techniques and Case Studies for Environmental Pollution, Second Edition serves as a single-source reference and encompasses all categories of pollutants and their applications in a convenient, comprehensive format for researchers in environmental science and engineering, pollution, environmental microbiology, and biotechnology. Describes many novel approaches of microbial bioremediation including genetic engineering, metagenomics, microbial fuel cell technology, biosurfactants and biofilm-based bioremediation Introduces relatively new hazardous elements and their bioremediation practices including oil spills, military waste water, greenhouse gases, polythene wastes, and more Provides the most advanced techniques in the field of bioremediation, including insilico approach, microbes as pollution indicators, use of bioreactors, techniques of pollution monitoring, and more Completely updated and expanded to include topics and techniques such as genetically engineered bacteria, environmental health, nanoremediation, heavy metals, contaminant transport, and in situ and ex situ methods Includes theoretical context and case studies within each chapter

Modern Treatment Strategies for Marine Pollution provides an overview of assessment tools that identify contaminants in marine water, also discussing the latest technologies for removing these contaminants. Through templated and consistently structured chapters, the author explores the importance of seawater to our marine ecosystems and the devastating effects pollutants are causing. Sections cover the emission of toxic pollutants from industries, wastewater discharge, oil spills from boarding ships, ballast water emission, abnormal growth of algal blooms, and more. Techniques explored include huge diameter pipelines erected for removing floating debris from seawater, which is denoted as a primary idea for cleaning contaminants. The book includes numerous case studies that demonstrate how these tools can be successfully used. It is an essential read for marine ecologists and oceanographers at the graduate level and above, but is also ideal for those looking to incorporate these techniques into their own work. Presents and discusses advanced technologies used in the treatment of marine water Includes case studies to show what techniques have been successful Provides new information on contamination assessment and analytical protocols for identifying pollutants, which is essential for readers to use in their own work

There is growing concern about the state of the world's oceans. The rapid growth of human populations in coastal regions has led to increasing dependence on marine resources. Beneficial features related to food supply and life style need to be balanced against the hazards presented by microbial pathogens, chemical pollutants, and toxic algal blooms. In this book, a group of experts from a range of backgrounds review the key aspects of the marine environment in relation to human health. An initial overview explains the need for integrating a range of disciplines, from physical oceanography and marine biology to molecular biology and epidemiology. Only by this approach can we hope to predict the consequences of environmental change and exploitation of natural resources upon our coastal ecosystems and, ultimately, on society and human health. Subsequent chapters then focus on more specialized topics. Firstly, waterborne pathogens are reviewed in detail and the microbial measures and policy implications important for protecting humans from exposure are described. Next, the consumption of contaminated seafood is considered along with its implications regarding the growth of aquaculture. Priority pollutants, emerging contaminants, and plastics are investigated as are the effects of climate change on pollution. Some phytoplankton produce biotoxins which accumulate in the flesh of filter-feeders such as bivalve molluscs. This creates a health risk when the shellfish are consumed by humans. The penultimate chapter, therefore, concentrates on harmful algal blooms (HABs) and the methodologies used to safeguard human health. The book concludes by proposing a holistic systems approach, such as Integrated Coastal Zone Management, to address the interconnected scientific challenges of increased human population pressure, pollution, over-exploitation of food resources, and the urgent need for effective public health solutions to be developed from politically and environmentally meaningful policies.