Sustainability

Life

Bacteria

Bacteria against pollution

Pseudomonas are aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria. They can use over one hundred organic compounds as a source of energy and carbon. Because of this, some strains have been used to remove highly polluting, hard-to-degrade compounds, such as some components of oil, fungicides, pesticides and herbicides.
Research is testing several methods to use these bacteria in ecological disasters caused by oil leaks from tankers. In particular, strains are being selected in an attempt to find those that are able to feed on oil. These micro-organisms break up the masses of crude oil that float on the water or soil the beaches and destroy them through digestion.