Question

In the context of solving pollution problems, what is/are the advantage/advantages of bioremediation techniques?
1. It is a technique for cleaning up pollution by enhancing the same biodegradation process that occurs in nature.
2. Any contaminant with heavy metals such as cadmium and lead can be readily and completely treated by bioremediation using micro-organisms.
3. Genetic engineering can be used to create microorganisms specifically designed for bioremediation.
A) 1 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1,2 and 3

Answer 1

Pollution occurs when chemicals are introduced into the natural environment and cause damage. Chemical substances or energy, such as noise, heat, or light, may pollute the environment. Pollutants are either foreign substances or energies or naturally occurring chemicals that contribute to pollution.

Complete answer:
Bioremediation is the method of treating polluted media, such as soil, water, and subsurface material, by altering environmental conditions to encourage microorganism growth and degradation of the target contaminants. Oil spills, soils polluted with acidic mining drainage, underground pipe leaks, and crime scene cleanups are all examples of bioremediation in action.

For reclaiming contaminated land and water, bioremediation technology is essential. Bioremediation, in its most basic form, is a waste management mechanism that employs live organisms to neutralize or eliminate harmful contaminants from polluted areas. Therefore, statement 1 is true.

Heavy metals such as cadmium, uranium, chromium, and lead are not biodegradable, unlike organic compounds. Bioremediation methods, on the other hand, have the ability to reduce the mobility of these materials in the subsurface, lowering the risk of human and environmental contamination. So statement 2 is false.

The use of genetic engineering to create species that are specifically engineered for bioremediation is still in the early stages of development. Degradative genes, which encode proteins necessary for pollutant degradation, and reporter genes, which can control pollution levels, are two types of genes that can be introduced into the organism. Hence statement 3 is true.

So, the correct answer is Option ‘C’i.e, 1 and 3 only.

Note: Since the biological processes used by microbes are so complex, many environmental factors must be considered and controlled. As a result, bioremediation procedures must be tailored to the particular conditions at the polluted site. Many variables are interdependent, such as small-scale experiments carried out before the operation is carried out at the contaminated site.