Many substances with toxic properties have been brought into the environment through human activity. These substances vary in level of toxicity and danger to human health. Many of these substances eventually come in contact with and are isolated by soil. Conventional methods to remove, reduce, or mitigate toxic substances introduced into soil or ground water via human activities and processes include pump and treat systems, soil vapour extraction, incineration, and containment. Utility of each of these conventional methods of treatment of contaminated soil and/or water suffers from recognizable drawbacks and may involve some level of risk.
The emerging science and technology of bioremediation offers an alternative method to detoxify contaminants. Bioremediation has been demonstrated and is being used as an effective means of mitigating:
- hydrocarbons
- halogenated organic solvents
- halogenated organic compounds
- non-chlorinated pesticides and herbicides
- nitrogen compounds
- metals (lead, mercury, chromium)
- radionuclides
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