14 DAY TRIAL // Judging by how much time and money go into polluting the environment, it comes as good news that there are still some people who like to take the time to research ways to clean up natural ecosystems that have somehow become contaminated.
Interestingly enough, recent news says that, when it comes to cleaning contaminated soils, us humans might find a worthy ally in fungi. White rot fungi like the one pictured above, to be more precise. Science Daily tells us that, according to specialist Erika Winquist with the Aalto University in Finland, this type of fungi has the ability to break down organic pollutants such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH compounds) and dioxins.
Thus, experiments carried out in laboratory conditions have shown that, when allowed to grow in contaminated soil, white rot fungi can break down about 96% of the PAH compounds and 64% of the dioxins it comes into contact with.
The only catch is that, before it can be used to clean soils contaminated with organic pollutants, the white rot fungi need be allowed to grow on tree bark for about 4 to 6 weeks. It is only after this grown period that its mycelia can be placed in polluted soil.
Talking to the press, specialist Erika Winquist explains that, all things considered, using white rot fungi to clean contaminated soil would especially come in handy when other options are either ineffective or too expensive.
Specifically, fungi could serve to remove contaminants that are resistant to traditional composting, or to avoid having to burn the soil at high temperatures in large incinerators. More so seeing how the practice of burning soil to clean it is expensive and dependent on specific infrastructure.
“Soil polluted with other organic pollutants than oil accounts for as much as 45 % of excavated contaminated soil. The compounds are found in areas where sawing is carried out and in areas where there is distribution of fuels, waste treatment and various kinds of industry,” the researcher says in a statement.
Furthermore, “Soil that has been polluted by organic pollutants such as oil can be treated by composting. However it is not effective against many other organic pollutants such as polyaromatic hydrocarbons and dioxins.”
Interestingly enough, the news that white rot fungi might help clean polluted soils comes shortly after researchers with the University of the Philippines, Los Baños, announced that they had discovered a new plant species that feasts on nickel and that could also be used for phytoremediation.