Microorganisms and chemical pollution

Journal Article · Sat Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1973 · BioScience; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2307/1296477· OSTI ID:5647467

Alexander, M

Microorganisms are unquestionably important in chemical pollution and pollution abatement. They are environmental decontaminating agents par excellence, ridding waters and soils of many natural and synthetic compounds which are not desired at that time or place or concentration. They sometimes are significant, too, because they may synthesize hazardous substances from reasonably innocuous precursors. Their occasional inadequacies must be cited as well, failings that become obvious when an organic molecule endures for many years. Conversely, because of the essentiality of many processes catalyzed by algae, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa, a chemically-induced change in one or more of those functions important in nature may have serious local, regional, or possibly global consequences. Activity in pollution microbiology, and in the basic aspects of microbial ecology without which information little meaningful data in the applied disciplines can be obtained, is increasing by leaps and bounds. Microbial ecology, both theoretical and mission oriented, is climbing to the forefront of microbiology, ecology, and other environmental sciences. Time will tell whether it lives up to its promises. 27 references.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY
• OSTI ID: 5647467
• Journal Information: BioScience; (United States), Vol. 23:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AIR POLLUTION ABATEMENT
ALGAE
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BACTERIA
FUNGI
LAND POLLUTION ABATEMENT
PROTOZOA
WATER POLLUTION ABATEMENT
AIR POLLUTION
CARBON MONOXIDE
ECOLOGY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
EUTROPHICATION
MINERALIZATION
NITRATES
NITRIFICATION
NITROGEN OXIDES
NITROSAMINES
POLLUTANTS
POLLUTION CONTROL
SULFUR DIOXIDE
SULFURIC ACID
WATER POLLUTION
AMINES
ANIMALS
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON OXIDES
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
CONTROL
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INORGANIC ACIDS
INVERTEBRATES
MICROORGANISMS
NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PLANTS
POLLUTION
POLLUTION ABATEMENT
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
SULFUR OXIDES
510100* - Environment
Terrestrial- Basic Studies- (-1989)
520100 - Environment
Aquatic- Basic Studies- (-1989)
500100 - Environment
Atmospheric- Basic Studies- (-1989)