A BIOREMEDIATION SYSTEM FOR THE DEGRADATION OF OZONE-DEPLETING SUBSTANCES

CONCERN OVER THE USE OF CHEMICALS THAT POTENTIALLY CONTRIBUTE TO OZONE DEPLETION AND THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT HAS LED TO A BAN ON CHLOROFLUOROCARBONS (CFCS) AND A PHASE-OUT ON THE USE OF METHYL BROMIDE. CFC REPLACEMENT COMPOUNDS, THE HYDROHALOCARBONS, ALSO HAVE EITHER OZONE DEPLETION POTENTIAL OR ARE POSSIBLE GREENHOUSE GASES. PRELIMINARY STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT THERE MAY BE A NUMBER OF NATURALLY-OCCURRING MICROORGANISMS CAPABLE OF DEGRADING THESE COMPOUNDS. RESEARCHERS ARE DEVELOPING A BIOREMEDIATION/BIORESTORATION SYSTEM FOR HYDROHALOCARBONS AND METHYL BROMIDE BASED ON THE DEGRADATIVE ABILITIES OF THESE ORGANISMS. SUCCESSFUL DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PROCESS WILL RESULT IN A COST-EFFECTIVE MEANS TO BIOLOGICALLY DEGRADE OZONE-DEPLETING CHEMICALS, THEREBY ELIMINATING THE HEALTH RISK TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.