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which turned out largely to be a hitor-miss
approach. The first use of
modern molecular biology tools
began in the early 1980s, with the
advent of polymerase chain reaction
(PCR) amplification of microbial
DNA and a new view of the
evolution of organisms based on
their ribosomal RNA.
There exists a relationship
between soil contamination and air
and water quality. Soil contaminants
interact with air through
volatilization and with water
through dissolution and leaching to
groundwater or runoff to surface
water. Mobile soil contamination
that is adding contaminant mass to
air or water is automatically
considered a source. Therefore it
must be remediated, or the
contaminant release from the soil
must be controlled.
Scope for Site Remediation in India
The country has, so far, identified
172 abandoned dump sites located
in various states which require
JUNE, 2010
Main Investigation
Phases
Preliminary Site Investigation /
Phase 1 Environmental Site
Assessment (ESA 1)
Detailed Site Investigation /
Phase 2 Environmental Site
Assessment (ESA 2)
Site Clean Up / Phase 3
Remedial Design and
Implementation (ESA 3)
Environmental Site Assessment
Main Investigation Phases and Major Tasks
remediation. So far, bioremediation
in India appears technoeconomically
feasible because of the
prevailing tropical climate almost
throughout the year in most of the
States and Union Territories.
Phytoremediation in India is being
extensively used for restoration of
environmental quality. However,
there exists ample scope to modify
the process through biostimulation
and bioaugmentation as well as
through better understanding of the
behavior of microbial community.
Also, the potential for generation of
carbon credit through
phytoremediation intervention as
well as through solid waste
composting (instead of land filling)
needs to be identified and applied
wherever possible.
Biodegradation and Bioremediation
The clean-up of xenobiotics and
anthropogenic contaminants that are
introduced in the environment
following rapid industrialization is
one of the most important problems
Major Tasks
Gathering and reviewing of available data (historical data,existing site data and assessment,
regulatory agency file data)
Site inspection (site walkover) and review of waste handling
Interviews with site owners, personnel and tenants
Data evaluation and reporting
Does not normally include sampling and chemical analytical testing.
Site-specific sub-surface investigation (may include drilling, test pits, monitoring wells, air,
surface water, ground water, soil sample collection and chemical analyses)
Data evaluation, delineation of contaminated area and Reporting
Note: Phase 2 ESAs may require more than one stage,
depending on the nature and distribution of environmental impacts.
Discussion of remedial objectives (with owner and / or regulatory agencies)
Establishment of Clean-up Criteria
Reviewing of appropriate alternative remedial technologies
Selecting and designing of Remedial Action Plan
Obtaining required approvals
Implementing Remedial Action Plan
Conducting performance monitoring and verification sampling
Report
Bioremediation
Restoring Habitats
currently being encountered globally.
The least cost clean-up technology
involves biodegradation and
bioremediation.
Biodegradability of a
compound requires that the
compound in question must possess
a chemical structure, that will be
accepted by the existing catabolic
enzymes of the microorganisms,
present in the environment. The
energy and the carbon released by
the reaction are used to support
microbial growth. Further, the
compound must be capable of
inducing or derepressing the
synthesis of the enzymes, which will
degrade it. When biodegradation is
complete, the elements of which the
original molecule was composed are
released into the environment in
inorganic forms.
Bioremediation may be
defined as the use of
biotechnological routes for
transformation, degradation and
detoxification of waste constituents
that result in environmentally
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