BIODIVERSITY AND POLLUTION CONTROL

PLANTS AS NATURAL PURIFIERS AS THEY ACT AS CARBON SINKS AND OXYGEN SUPPLIERS. THEY HELP NOT ONLY MAINTAINING THE BALANCE OF GASES IN THE ATMOSPHERE BUT ALSO IN REDUCING THE EFFECT OF HARMFUL GASES THEY ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING ATMOSPHERIC TEMPERATURE AND REDUCE GREEN HOUSE EFFECT WHICH RESULTS INTO GLOBAL WARMING. 

FORESTS OF ALL KIND EXCHANGE MOISTURE AND ENERGY WITH THE ATMOSPHERE MORE INTENSIVELY THAN OTHER LAND SURFACE COVER. AS VEGETATION COVER DIMINISHES THERE IS LESS SCOPE FOR EVAPO-TRANSPIRATION AND LESS MOISTURE IS DISPATCHED INTO THE ATMOSPHERE FOR RECYCLING AS RAINFALL. IN ADDITION FORESTS INCREASE CLOUD COVER AND CLOUDS ALTER THE CLIMATE OF FOREST REGIONS IN TERMS OF TEMPERATURE AND RAINFALL.

GREEN BELT PLANTATIONS ACT AS BUFFERS AND SHOCK ABSORBERS AGAINST DUST A NOISE IN URBAN, INDUSTRIAL AND MINING AREAS. A GREAT VARIETY OF TREES HELP IN THE REDUCTION OF AIR AND NOISE POLLUTION.

CERTAIN PLANTS ARE ABLE TO EXTRACT HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES SUCH AS ARSENIC, LEAD AND URANIUM FROM SOIL AND WATER. THE ALPINE PENNYCRESS (BRASSICACEAL) IS A PLANT THAT BIOACCUMULATES HIGH LEVELS OF CADMIUM AND ZINC FROM THE ENVIRONMENT. THE BRACKEN FERN EXTRACTS ARSENIC FROM THE SOIL AND STORES IT IN ITS FERN LEAVES AS MUCH AS 200 TIMES THAT PRESENT IN THE SOIL, ENABLING EFFECTIVE CLEAN UP PROGRAMMES. SUNFLOWERS WERE USED TO CLEAN UP URANIUM AFTER THE CHERNOBYL ACCIDENT.

COMPLEX MICROBIAL COMMUNITIES DEGRADE CERTAIN TOXIC CHEMICALS THROUGH A PROCESS CALLED BIODEGRADATION. SOME MICRO ORGANISMS THAT ARE ABLE TO DEGRADE TOXIC CHEMICALS ARE

• PSEUUDOMONAS DEGRADES TOXIC CHEMICALS LIKE HYDROCARBONS, BENZENE, NAPTHALENE AND ORGANOPHOSPHATES.
• ARTHROBACTER DEGRADES HYDROCARBONS, BENZENE, POLYCYCLIC AROMATICS.
• MYCROBACTERIUM DEGRADES CYCLOPARAFFINS AND AROMATICS MICROBIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION OF OIL SPILLS IS PRACTICAL USING A MIXTURE OF BACTERIAL STRAINS. IT IS ALSO USED FOR REMOVING GREASE DEPOSITED ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TANKS IN OIL-CARRYING SHIPS.

MICROBIOLOGICAL DEGRADATION OF OIL SPILLS IS PRACTICAL USING A MIXTURE OF BACTERIAL STRAINS. IT IS ALSO USED FOR REMOVING GREASE DEPOSITED ON THE INNER SIDE OF THE TANKS IN OIL-CARRYING SHIPS.

MICRO ORGANISMS OR THEIR ENZYMES ARE USED IN POLLUTION ABATEMENT, BUT NOT ALL CONTAMINANTS ARE EASILY TREATED FOR EXAMPLE HEAVY METALS LIKE CADMIUM AND LEAD ARE NOT READILY ABSORBED OR CAPTURED BY THESE ORGANISMS. THE INTEGRATION ON OF METALS SUCH AS MERCURY IN THE FOOD CHAIN MAY MAKE THINGS WORSE AS ORGANISMS BIO-ACCUMULATE THESE METAL.