Explain the role of microbes in chemical pollution.

Explanation

(i) Some microbes remove the sulphur from fuels .
(ii) Metals like copper , iron , uranium , zinc , etc. leach into environment from low quality metalloids . These are converted into compounds before leaching with the help of Thiobacilli and Sulphobacilli .
(iii) Bacteria like Pseudomonas spp and Alcanovorax borkumensis have ability to destroy the pyridines and other chemicals. Hence , these bacteria are used to clear oil spills .
(iv) Species of fungi like Actinomycetes , Streptomyces , Nocardia , Actinnoplanes have the ability to decompose rubber from garbage .
(vi ) Bacteria like Acidophillium spp. and Acidobacillus ferroxidens control the soil pollution occuring due to acid rain.
(vii) Geobacter convert water soluble salts of uranium into insoluble salts and hence prevent these salts from mixing with ground water sources.