Secondary Effects of Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of naturally occurring organisms or organic material to remove pollution from soil and water. Occasionally, these well-meaning procedures can leave behind undesirable secondary products, which can be as much of a problem as the initial material. Secondary effects of bioremediation also can include lost income and use of land to farmers and ranchers.

Production of Charged Particles

• Weak electrical fields can be used for the bioremediation of soil. However, this process can have a negative impact on microbial populations that degrade contaminants naturally. An article in the September 2010 issue of "Science of the Total Environment" proposed a suitable application of electric current to evade detrimental changes in the soil pH, which can harm resident bacteria. The researchers found that constant application of electrical fields at 1.4 volts per centimeter is efficient in bioremediation, but does not inhibit the potential of microorganisms to degrade contaminants.

Negative Effects on Microorganisms

• Bioremediation sometimes can encourage the production of undesirable secondary substances. A study published in the June 2010 issue of "Environmental Science Technology" examined the effects of secondary products, including inorganic charged particles, mineralization products and microbial waste products. The study found that charged particles led to the production of green rust by the transfer of charges to iron molecules in the soil. The authors concluded that charged particles inhibit bacterial cells that can assist with bioremediation and produce compounds that are harmful to the environment.

Income to Farmers

• Bioremediation can have devastating effects on the income of farmers, who attempt to rid their land of pollutants. A study in the September 2010 issue of the "International Journal of Phytoremediation" investigated the use of crops for producing fuel as opposed to feed for farm animals. The authors cited a case of a farm field that was contaminated by cadmium, a heavy metal that can contaminate feed. Unable to grow feed corn, the owner of the field faced severe financial hardships by allowing the ground to go unused while attempting to rid the land of contaminants. The authors found that it was possible to grow corn for the production of ethanol and simultaneously reduce the pollution levels, thereby evading financial calamity.

Toxic Substances from Bioremediation

• Paper mills pollute waterways. Actions have been taken to limit the amount of damage to the environment through bioremediation. Effluent from paper mills is treated organically before being released, but this treatment often retains or produces harmful materials. An article in the May 2010 issue of "Environmental Science and Pollution Research International" stated that bioremediation of wood pulp left residual levels of organic compounds in the final effluent from paper mills. The authors found that a tertiary treatment with fungi could ameliorate the toxic effects of effluent from these facilities.