Bioremediation Successfully Removes Carcinogens from Contaminated Soil.
The researchers tested soil from an oil refinery to see if a bioremediation process reduced harmful chemicals. They used two tests to check for genotoxicity, or damage to DNA. The results showed that the bioremediation process reduced 81% of the harmful chemicals in the soil. The tests did not find any genotoxicity in the soil after treatment. One test was more sensitive than the other in detecting potential harm. This study shows that the tests used are helpful for checking if soil is safe after being treated for contamination.