Bioremediation: meaning, definitions and examples

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bioremediation

[ˌbaɪoʊrɪˌmiːdiˈeɪʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

environmental

The process of using biological organisms to remove or neutralize contaminants in the environment, such as oil spills or chemical pollutants.

Synonyms

biodegradation, biological cleanup.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
bioremediation	Use this term when discussing the process of using living organisms, like bacteria or plants, to clean up environmental pollutants and restore the environment to its original state. Bioremediation was employed to clean the contaminated soil in the industrial area
biological cleanup	This is used in a more general sense to describe any cleanup process that uses biological agents, and can be used interchangeably with bioremediation in casual conversation. After the oil spill, a biological cleanup was initiated to restore the marine ecosystem
biodegradation	This word is appropriate when referring to the natural breakdown of organic materials by microorganisms over time, often without human intervention. Biodegradation of the plastic waste could take hundreds of years

Word

Description / Examples

bioremediation

Use this term when discussing the process of using living organisms, like bacteria or plants, to clean up environmental pollutants and restore the environment to its original state.

Bioremediation was employed to clean the contaminated soil in the industrial area

biological cleanup

This is used in a more general sense to describe any cleanup process that uses biological agents, and can be used interchangeably with bioremediation in casual conversation.

After the oil spill, a biological cleanup was initiated to restore the marine ecosystem

biodegradation

This word is appropriate when referring to the natural breakdown of organic materials by microorganisms over time, often without human intervention.

Biodegradation of the plastic waste could take hundreds of years

Examples of usage

Bioremediation has been successfully used to clean up oil spills in marine environments.
Microorganisms are often employed in bioremediation processes to break down harmful substances.
Bioremediation offers a more sustainable and eco-friendly approach to environmental cleanup.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

scientific

The application of biological systems or organisms to degrade or detoxify pollutants in the environment.

Synonyms

bio-cleanup, environmental bioremediation.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
bioremediation	This term is commonly used in scientific and environmental discussions to refer to the process of using microorganisms to remove or neutralize contaminants from a polluted area. It's a broad and technical term that can be applied in various settings, such as soil, water, and air cleanup. Bioremediation is a preferred method for cleaning up oil spills in marine environments. Researchers are exploring bioremediation to treat contaminated groundwater.
environmental bioremediation	This phrase specifies the application of bioremediation in an environmental context, highlighting the focus on environmental protection and sustainability. It's often used in academic papers, environmental reports, and policy discussions. The government funded a large-scale environmental bioremediation project to address industrial pollution. Environmental bioremediation techniques can significantly reduce the ecological footprint of waste management.
bio-cleanup	This term is less technical and more colloquial compared to 'bioremediation'. It's often used in more informal discussions or in media to describe the process of using biological methods to clean up the environment. Bio-cleanup efforts are underway to restore the river after the chemical spill. Community volunteers participated in a bio-cleanup project to improve their local park.

Word

Description / Examples

bioremediation

This term is commonly used in scientific and environmental discussions to refer to the process of using microorganisms to remove or neutralize contaminants from a polluted area. It's a broad and technical term that can be applied in various settings, such as soil, water, and air cleanup.

Bioremediation is a preferred method for cleaning up oil spills in marine environments.
Researchers are exploring bioremediation to treat contaminated groundwater.

environmental bioremediation

This phrase specifies the application of bioremediation in an environmental context, highlighting the focus on environmental protection and sustainability. It's often used in academic papers, environmental reports, and policy discussions.

The government funded a large-scale environmental bioremediation project to address industrial pollution.
Environmental bioremediation techniques can significantly reduce the ecological footprint of waste management.

bio-cleanup

This term is less technical and more colloquial compared to 'bioremediation'. It's often used in more informal discussions or in media to describe the process of using biological methods to clean up the environment.

Bio-cleanup efforts are underway to restore the river after the chemical spill.
Community volunteers participated in a bio-cleanup project to improve their local park.

Examples of usage

Bioremediation techniques have been developed to address soil contamination issues.
Researchers are exploring new methods of bioremediation to tackle water pollution.
Bioremediation is a promising field for mitigating the impact of human activities on the environment.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word combines 'bio,' meaning life, and 'remediation,' which refers to correcting a problem.
It emerged in the 1980s as scientists began employing natural processes to address environmental contamination.

Environmental Science

Certain bacteria can break down harmful substances in oil spills, making them less toxic to the environment.
Plants, like sunflowers, are sometimes used in 'phytoremediation' to absorb heavy metals from contaminated soil.

Historical Context

The practice gained significant attention after the 1970s, especially following incidents like the Love Canal disaster which highlighted pollution issues.
It was first widely used in the aftermath of the Exxon Valdez oil spill in 1989, demonstrating its practical application.

Technology and Innovation

Scientists are developing genetically modified organisms to enhance their ability to degrade specific pollutants.
Microbial fuel cells are being researched, which utilize bacteria to clean up waste while generating electricity.

Cultural Impact

Bioremediation has inspired various environmental movements advocating for natural methods of pollution control.
Documentaries and educational programs often highlight success stories to raise awareness about eco-friendly remediation techniques.

Translations

Translations of the word "bioremediation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 biorremediação

🇮🇳 जीवाणु उपचार

🇩🇪 Bioremediation

🇮🇩 bioremediasi

🇺🇦 біоремедіація

🇵🇱 bioremediacja

🇯🇵 バイオレメディエーション

🇫🇷 biorémédiation

🇪🇸 biorremediación

🇹🇷 biyoremediasyon

🇰🇷 생물 복원

🇸🇦 إعادة تأهيل حيوي

🇨🇿 bioremediace

🇸🇰 bioremediácia

🇨🇳 生物修复

🇸🇮 bioremediacija

🇮🇸 lífræn endurheimt

🇰🇿 биоремедиация

🇬🇪 ბიორემედიაცია

🇦🇿 biyoremediasiya

🇲🇽 biorremediación

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,554 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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31551 defiling
31552 electrophysiology
31553 directorial
31554 bioremediation
31555 unflinchingly
31556 hipped
31557 cackled
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