macroinvertebrates. Effectively used biomonitors facilitate comparisons of contaminants over different time and
space scales. Across a pollution gradient, some organisms
will be more tolerant and may become dominant, whereas
the most sensitive groups may become rare. Important
intra- and interspecific variation can be observed in the
accumulation and tolerance of contaminants (organics or
inorganics) in biomonitors, even for species belonging to
the same taxonomic group (Amiard-Triquet et al., 2011).
Therefore, it is advisable to use more than one biomonitor
to increase the comprehension of different sources of contaminants (e.g., dissolved, particulate, sediments, etc.)
(Luoma and Rainbow, 2008). It is also important to know
the biology of each biomonitoring organism to understand
the potential routes of metal uptake available to the organisms (Rainbow, 2006).
The most useful biomonitoring organisms are sedentary, abundant, and tolerant of environmental contamination and natural stressors. They should also be long lived
to integrate variation in contaminant availability over
a protracted period of time. They should also be large
enough for analysis (Rainbow, 2006). Biomonitors must
be resistant to handling during sample collection, manipulative experiments, and identification. Additionally, the
more widespread the distribution of a biomonitoring
organism, the greater its value as a cosmopolitan
biomonitor providing cross-reference through large geographical areas (Rainbow and Phillips, 1993; Luoma and
Rainbow, 2008).
Summary
Biomonitors are important tools to estimate and monitor
the bioavailability of contaminants in the environment
integrated over a specific period of time. The net accumulated contaminants may be used to identify ecologically
significant pollutants.
Bibliography
Amiard-Triquet, C., Rainbow, P. S., and Romeo, M., 2011. Tolerance to Environmental Contaminants. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Chapman, P. M., Romberg, G. P., and Vigers, G. A., 1982. Design of
monitoring for priority pollutants. Water Pollution Control Federation, 54, 292–297.
Goldberg, E. D., 1986. The Mussel Watch concept. Environment
Monitoring and Assessment, 7, 91–103.
Luoma, S. N., and Rainbow, P. S., 2008. Metal Contamination in
Aquatic Environments: Science and Lateral Management. New
York: Cambridge University Press.
Rainbow, P. S., 2002. Trace metal concentrations in aquatic invertebrates: why and so what? Environmental Pollution, 120,
497–507.
Rainbow, P. S., 2006. Biomonitoring of trace metals in estuarine and
marine environments. Australian Journal of Ecotoxicology,
12, 107–122.
Rainbow, P. S., and Phillips, D. J. H., 1993. Cosmopolitan
biomonitors of trace metals. Marine Pollution Bulletin,
26, 593–601.
Cross-references
Bioavailability
Bioindicators
Biomagnification
Ecological Monitoring
BIOREMEDIATION
Monia El Bour
Marine Microbiology Unit, Department of Marine
Biotechnology and Biodiversity, National Institute of Sea
Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Tunis, Tunisia
Synonyms
Biotreatment of pollutants
Definition
Bioremediation refers to the use of an organism’s
metabolism to remove wastes, hazardous substances, or
other pollutants. In general, microorganisms have been
used as bioremediators, such as in phytoremediation,
bioventing, bioleaching, landfarming, bioreactor,
composting, rhizofiltration and biostimulation. However, not all contaminants are easily treated by bioremediation using microorganisms, and thus the elimination
of a wide range of pollutants and wastes from the environment requires increased understanding of different
pathways for specific bioremediation technologies and
biotransformation processes.
Bioremediation options
Bioremediation has emerged as a promising technology,
particularly as a secondary treatment option for oil
cleanup. It has several potential advantages over conventional technologies, being less costly, less intrusive to the
contaminated site, and more environmentally benign in
terms of its end products (Zhu et al., 2004).
Bioremediation has been effectively used in estuarine
environments as well as other aquatic ecosystems to remediate oils spills. It has proven to be an effective tool for
also treating oil-contaminated marine shorelines.
Microbes isolated from estuarine (brackish) waters have
been of value in detoxification of many metals
(Nagvenkar and Ramaiah, 2010).
In addition, bivalves have been utilized to mollify estuarine eutrophication by removing substances from the
water column and reducing nitrogen (N) loads to coastal
waters (Carmichael et al., 2012). Many molluscan
species have the potential to reduce organic and inorganic
compounds (nutrients) from aquaculture effluents;
filter-feeding bivalves, microalgae, and macroalgae are
potentially valuable organisms for reducing nutrient
enrichment in estuarine and other coastal water bodies
(Martinez-Cordova et al., 2011).
84
BIOREMEDIATION
space scales. Across a pollution gradient, some organisms
will be more tolerant and may become dominant, whereas
the most sensitive groups may become rare. Important
intra- and interspecific variation can be observed in the
accumulation and tolerance of contaminants (organics or
inorganics) in biomonitors, even for species belonging to
the same taxonomic group (Amiard-Triquet et al., 2011).
Therefore, it is advisable to use more than one biomonitor
to increase the comprehension of different sources of contaminants (e.g., dissolved, particulate, sediments, etc.)
(Luoma and Rainbow, 2008). It is also important to know
the biology of each biomonitoring organism to understand
the potential routes of metal uptake available to the organisms (Rainbow, 2006).
The most useful biomonitoring organisms are sedentary, abundant, and tolerant of environmental contamination and natural stressors. They should also be long lived
to integrate variation in contaminant availability over
a protracted period of time. They should also be large
enough for analysis (Rainbow, 2006). Biomonitors must
be resistant to handling during sample collection, manipulative experiments, and identification. Additionally, the
more widespread the distribution of a biomonitoring
organism, the greater its value as a cosmopolitan
biomonitor providing cross-reference through large geographical areas (Rainbow and Phillips, 1993; Luoma and
Rainbow, 2008).
Summary
Biomonitors are important tools to estimate and monitor
the bioavailability of contaminants in the environment
integrated over a specific period of time. The net accumulated contaminants may be used to identify ecologically
significant pollutants.
Bibliography
Amiard-Triquet, C., Rainbow, P. S., and Romeo, M., 2011. Tolerance to Environmental Contaminants. Boca Raton: CRC Press.
Chapman, P. M., Romberg, G. P., and Vigers, G. A., 1982. Design of
monitoring for priority pollutants. Water Pollution Control Federation, 54, 292–297.
Goldberg, E. D., 1986. The Mussel Watch concept. Environment
Monitoring and Assessment, 7, 91–103.
Luoma, S. N., and Rainbow, P. S., 2008. Metal Contamination in
Aquatic Environments: Science and Lateral Management. New
York: Cambridge University Press.
Rainbow, P. S., 2002. Trace metal concentrations in aquatic invertebrates: why and so what? Environmental Pollution, 120,
497–507.
Rainbow, P. S., 2006. Biomonitoring of trace metals in estuarine and
marine environments. Australian Journal of Ecotoxicology,
12, 107–122.
Rainbow, P. S., and Phillips, D. J. H., 1993. Cosmopolitan
biomonitors of trace metals. Marine Pollution Bulletin,
26, 593–601.
Cross-references
Bioavailability
Bioindicators
Biomagnification
Ecological Monitoring
BIOREMEDIATION
Monia El Bour
Marine Microbiology Unit, Department of Marine
Biotechnology and Biodiversity, National Institute of Sea
Sciences and Technologies (INSTM), Tunis, Tunisia
Synonyms
Biotreatment of pollutants
Definition
Bioremediation refers to the use of an organism’s
metabolism to remove wastes, hazardous substances, or
other pollutants. In general, microorganisms have been
used as bioremediators, such as in phytoremediation,
bioventing, bioleaching, landfarming, bioreactor,
composting, rhizofiltration and biostimulation. However, not all contaminants are easily treated by bioremediation using microorganisms, and thus the elimination
of a wide range of pollutants and wastes from the environment requires increased understanding of different
pathways for specific bioremediation technologies and
biotransformation processes.
Bioremediation options
Bioremediation has emerged as a promising technology,
particularly as a secondary treatment option for oil
cleanup. It has several potential advantages over conventional technologies, being less costly, less intrusive to the
contaminated site, and more environmentally benign in
terms of its end products (Zhu et al., 2004).
Bioremediation has been effectively used in estuarine
environments as well as other aquatic ecosystems to remediate oils spills. It has proven to be an effective tool for
also treating oil-contaminated marine shorelines.
Microbes isolated from estuarine (brackish) waters have
been of value in detoxification of many metals
(Nagvenkar and Ramaiah, 2010).
In addition, bivalves have been utilized to mollify estuarine eutrophication by removing substances from the
water column and reducing nitrogen (N) loads to coastal
waters (Carmichael et al., 2012). Many molluscan
species have the potential to reduce organic and inorganic
compounds (nutrients) from aquaculture effluents;
filter-feeding bivalves, microalgae, and macroalgae are
potentially valuable organisms for reducing nutrient
enrichment in estuarine and other coastal water bodies
(Martinez-Cordova et al., 2011).
84
BIOREMEDIATION