BY SAMUEL NABWIISO & JONAN
TWINAMATSIKO
The surroundings
around us are termed as ‘environment’. It is where we all meet, where all have
a mutual interest; it is the one thing all of us share. The environment
encompasses the interaction of all living species, climate, weather, and
natural resources that affect human survival and economic activity.
Human activity and
anthropogenic impact affects the biophysical environments, biodiversity, and
other resources. In the current situation, we [human beings] are using up 50%
more natural resources than the earth can provide and this has resulted into
the renowned effects of human activity on the environment which
include decreased water quality, increased pollution and greenhouse gas
emissions.
Depletion of natural resources has contributed to global climate
change Some of these are the direct result of human activities,
whereas others are secondary effects that are part of a series of actions and
reactions to over come such environmental challenges it requires the use of technologies which are efficient and friendly to the Environment and for his case Biotechnology is the way to go.
Biotechnology has tremendous potential for unique, efficient,
Eco-friendly and economically viable options for controlling environmental
pollution and ensuring conservation of environment and biodiversity thereby
addressing the effects of human activity on the environment.
The term
“Biotechnology” was first coined by Karl Rekey in 1991 and it literally means
“the use of living systems and organisms to develop or make products, or any
technological application that uses biological systems, living organisms, or
derivatives thereof, to make or modify products or processes for specific use.”
(UN Convention on Biological Diversity, 1992).
Environmental biotechnology which is also known as “grey
biotechnology” refers to the use of microorganisms to improve the environmental
quality. So far it has focused on the development of technologies to clean up
the aquatic, terrestrial and aerial environment. Biotechnology therefore
remains the most ideal environmental protection technology due to its
multi-functional nature and its wide spread usage and in an overview, here are
some of its applications in environment protection.
As we all know that microorganisms are known natural
scavengers, the microbial preparations (both natural and those genetically
engineered) can be used to clean up the environmental hazards. These living microorganisms are used through
bioremediation which is a biotechnology technique used to degrade contaminants
present in the soil and groundwater system.
These microorganisms degrade toxic
pollutants into less toxic compounds.The main application of environmental
biotechnology is the bio degradation of organic matter of municipal wastewater
and bio degradation/detoxification of hazardous substances in industrial
wastewater.
Unlike the expensive and tedious method of bio degradation
that involves continuous supply of oxygen, use of biotechnology employs an
Eco-friendly, cost-effective and efficient use of micro-algae in ponds and tanks
where sewage treatment is carried out.
Bioreactors as a biotechnological tool, is used as equipment
for biological treatment of pollutants. The emission of pollutants into the
atmosphere (mostly due to industrialization) causes problems such as depletion
of the ozone layer, ozone creation in the Earth's atmosphere, the greenhouse
effect, photochemical reactions, and harmful impacts on humans, plants, animals
and ecosystems.
Unlike the expensive
and less effective conventional methods (incineration, thermal and catalytic
oxidation, surface or deep absorption, and condensation) used for chemical and
physical control of gaseous pollutants, bio filters are the most ideal method
under normal operating conditions of temperature and pressure for biological
treatment of gaseous pollutants.
Other applications of environmental biotechnology are the
prevention of pollution and restoration of water quality in reservoirs, lakes and
rivers, coastal area, in aquifers of groundwater, and treatment of potable
water.
The use of biosensors which literally refers to devices that
use living organisms or other biological molecules, especially enzymes or
antibodies, to detect the presence of chemicals also remains a great
biotechnological technique for environmental protection.
Biochips and other biotechnological tools are also used to
monitor the quality of the environment, prevent hazardous waste production
using biotechnological analogs, develop biodegradable materials for
environmental sustainability, produce fuels from biomass and organic wastes,
and reduce toxicity.
The industrial use of mineral resources leads to the drastic
accumulation of these pollutants in the biosphere. Bioadsorption processes are
great tools which are currently being developed and involve using developed
bioadsorbers made from renewable materials which function as ion exchangers to
effectively perform elimination and disposal of toxic heavy metals from industrial
wastewater, ore mine wastewater, seepage water from dumpsites or wastewater
from nuclear power stations.
In general, whereas biotechnology is not a panacea, it is an
indispensable technology and the most appropriate technology that provides
cost-effective and ecofriendly approaches for not just environmental protection
but also enhancing conservation of the natural beauty and protecting the great
habitat of all living organisms; the earth.
For country like Uganda to benefit from such technology the
country must adopt the application of Biotechnology which has huge potential to
solve both Environmental and Agricultural challenges like mitigating the out
brake of crop diseases which has greatly affected the production in the
Agricultural sector.
About the Authors
Jonan Twinamatsiko is biotechnology student at Makerere University and Samuel
Nabwiiso is Ugandan science Journalist .
