Iryna+Protasova

There is concern about pollution by humans in the natural habitats of organisms, and for good reason. Oil spills of all kinds can be disastrous to wildlife in the area. All kinds of plants, almost immediately after coming into contact with oil, begin to show reduced signs of health and growth in all areas. For example, experiments have been done on Chromolaena odorata (a type of bush) with crude oil (1), Phaseolus nipponesis (red beans) and Zea mays (corn) with crude oil (2), a variety of plants with crude and diesel oil with diesel being worse (3), cowpeas with a diesel oil mixture (4), Arachis hypogea (peanut) and Zea mays with spent (going through an engine) and unspent (not yet having gone through an engine) diesel fuel, with both being about equally bad for plants on average (5), and a variety of plants with a variety of oils (6). However, there are ways to cause an oil spill to have less effect. For example, one can use bioremediation, or the use of biological process to overcome environmental problems. Nocardia (2) and Pseudomonas are two organisms that may undergo such biological processes. There is hope for these organisms in treating oil spills, and some experiments have been done that show these organisms work in reducing the effect of an oil spill on native plants by degrading the oil (2). My proposition is to use earthworms on soil permeated with oil to see whether it is possible for such a common, easy-to-access creature to reduce the harmful effects of pollution in small areas.


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Check out bioremediation in Ward's Scientific. (Google Wards and then search bioremediation) I sent an e-mail for more info on their products. Perhaps an e-mentor can come from them. Also, another teacher is contacting a friend to see if he can help. In the meantime, look up professors who research bioremediation for an e-mentor. Effect of oil (what kind? diesel and biodegradable) on plants (what kinds? any available)

Research links: http://www.ehs.cdu.edu.au/chromolaena/pubs/oil.html Effect of crude oil on growth of Chromolaena odorata http://www.envismadrasuniv.org/pdf/Effects%20of%20Crude%20Oil.pdf Effect of crude oil on growth of red beans and corn http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=7&sqi=2&ved=0CGQQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Farctic.synergiesprairies.ca%2Farctic%2Findex.php%2Farctic%2Farticle%2Fdownload%2F2656%2F2633&rct=j&q=effect%20of%20oil%20spill%20on%20plants&ei=As2MTonbLMSGsAK0s7mfBA&usg=AFQjCNFDZY5V_3QY4TrStxSF-PlzIxP0uA Effect of diesel and crude oil spills on various plants http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=6&sqi=2&ved=0CFQQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.academicjournals.org%2Fajest%2FPDF%2Fpdf%25202009%2FDec%2FNjoku%2520et%2520al.pdf&rct=j&q=effect%20of%20gasoline%20on%20plant%20growth&ei=Z86MTumeLuyqsAL3ytHLBA&usg=AFQjCNFLn4FH8zzbbF6F9f05O5udOC0SrA&cad=rja Effect of diesel oil mixture on cowpea http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CDQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.academicjournals.org%2Fsre%2FPDF%2Fpdf2011%2F4Jun%2FEhiagbonare%2520et%2520al.pdf&rct=j&q=effect%20of%20diesel%20fuel%20on%20plant%20growth&ei=cM-MTp34Ma-ksQL_--2TBA&usg=AFQjCNFO_Euop16KAGV0PFwqU-cO2uY5_g&cad=rja Effect of spent and unspent diesel fuel on Arachis hypogea and Zea mays http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=8&sqi=2&ved=0CGcQFjAH&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.uiweb.uidaho.edu%2Fbioenergy%2FBiodieselEd%2Fpublication%2F04.pdf&ei=ftCMTsChNsSGsAK0s7mfBA&usg=AFQjCNFdHgw_ZI3uXVAfeJjjc-zTnmydLg Effect of various types of fuel on various aspects

Bioremediation: www.envismadrasuniv.org/pdf/Effects%20of%20Crude%20Oil.pdf //Effect of bioremediation by// Nocardia on red beans and corn http://resources.metapress.com/pdf-preview.axd?code=5j53rw7xxgu2t6c4&size=largest Potential of bioremediation to reduce oil levels in Antarctica

Plant links: http://www.carolina.com/category/living+organisms/wisconsin+fast+plants.do?s_cid=ppc_gl_fast+plants&gclid=COvlifa50qsCFcTrKgodDSqZ4A Brassica rapa - fast growth, easy to measure, cheap

Types of oil links: http://www.hydrosafe.com/ Non-toxic, biodegradable http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/bho.aspx Biodegradable, oxidative stability

Notes: Bioremediation appears to be a more practical topic than a comparison of types of oils, because it offers a solution to oil spills.

If I were to search for an e-mentor, should I look for people working in chemistry, biology, biochemistry, microbiology, green science?

For buying organisms: Earthworms might work, and are easy enough to buy. However, testing a microorganism would be more interesting, but more difficult. Microorganisms are more varied; however, they are also more difficult to buy. Many companies offer bioremediation services, but they are too comprehensive for an experiment.

http://www.alibaba.com/product-tp/107231054/PSEUDOMONAS_PUTIDA.html - Pseudomonas Putida - popular genetically engineered microorganism for bioremediation - buying involves inquiry and prices aren't given