ROLE OF BIOTECHNOLOGY IN THE ENVIRONMENT

ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Environment means surroundings Includes air (atmosphere), water (hydrosphere), soil ( lithosphere) and living entities ( biosphere ). Growth of cities, population explosion and rapid industrial development have led to the release of various contaminants Quality of life on earth is linked to the quality of the environment sustaining it.

 Onslaught of the environment :

Increased population
overexploitation of land, air and water resources destruction of biodiversity and natural resources injection of hazardous substances

HISTORY OF ENVIRONMENTAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Advent of the Industrial Revolution Release of industrial pollutants. Waste generation in tremendous amounts Result : environmental deterioration

Historical Significance of the Industrial Revolution

An ancient Greek or Roman would have been just as comfortable in Europe in 1700 because daily life was not much different agriculture and technology were not much changed in 2000+ years The Industrial Revolution changed human life drastically More was created in the last 250+ years than in the previous 2500+ years of known human history

What was the Industrial Revolution?

The Industrial Revolution was a fundamental change in the way goods were produced, from human labor to machines The more efficient means of production and subsequent higher levels of production triggered far-reaching changes to industrialized societies

The Industrial Revolution

Machines were invented which replaced human labor New energy sources were developed to power the new machinery water, steam, electricity, oil (gas, kerosene)
Some historians place advances in atomic, solar, and wind energy at the later stages of the Industrial Revolution

Increased use of metals and minerals

Aluminum, coal, copper, iron, etc.

The Industrial Revolution

Transportation improved
Ships
Wooden ships Iron ships Steel ships Wind-powered sails Steam-powered boilers

Trains Automobiles

Communication improved
Telegraph Telephone Radio

Developments
Mass production of goods
Increased numbers of goods Increased diversity of goods produced

Development of factory system of production Rural-to-urban migration

People left farms to work in cities

Development of capitalism
Financial capital for continued industrial growth

Development and growth of new socio-economic classes

Working class, bourgeoisie, and wealthy industrial class

Commitment to research and development

Investments in new technologies Industrial and governmental interest in promoting invention, the sciences, and overall industrial growth

Background of the Industrial Revolution

Scientific Revolution
17th and 18th centuries Discoveries of Boyle, Lavoisier, Newton, etc.

Intellectual Revolution
17th and 18th centuries Writings of Locke, Voltaire, etc.

Atmosphere of discovery and free intellectual inquiry

Greater knowledge of the world Weakened superstition and tradition Encouraged learning and the search for better and newer ways of doing things

England: Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution

No concrete start date for the Industrial Revolution
Marked by gradual, slow changes

After 1750 these changes were noticeable first in England

Why the Industrial Revolution Started in England

Capital for investing in the means of production Colonies and Markets for manufactured goods

Raw materials for production

Workers

Merchant marine

Geography

Necessity Is the Mother of Invention

Spinning machine Need to speed up weaving Power loom created

Necessity Is the Mother of Invention

Power loom Increased demand for raw cotton Invention of the cotton gin

Necessity Is the Mother of Invention

Cotton gin

Demands for stronger iron

Improvements in iron smelting and the development of steel (Bessemer process)

Necessity Is the Mother of Invention

As more steam-powered machines were built, factories needed more coal to create this steam

Mining methods improved to meet the demand for more coal

The process of inventing never ends

One invention inevitably leads to improvements upon it and to more inventions

 An excellent example of this phenomenon is the personal computer or cell phone. Cell phones were initially used by professionals who needed fast communications for business. The everyday usefulness of cell phones was quickly apparent, increasing demand. Cell phone towers were built around the globe, and cell phone technology continues to grow more complex. Compare between the original cell phone and the current I Phone

Agricultural Revolution
Agriculture became a science during the Agricultural Revolution Farmers and governments invested in agricultural research
Established agricultural schools, societies, and experimental stations

Progress in agriculture
Pesticides, stock breeding, new foods, food preservation, new farming techniques and irrigation methods, frozen foods

Result
Today, in the industrialized world, much more food is grown by far fewer farmers than was grown 200 years ago (or is grown today in the non-industrialized world)

The First and Second Industrial Revolutions

The first, or old, Industrial Revolution took place between about 1750 and 1870
Took place in England, the United States, Belgium, and France Saw fundamental changes in agriculture, the development of factories, and rural-to-urban migration

The second Industrial Revolution took place between about 1870 and 1960
Saw the spread of the Industrial Revolution to places such as Germany, Japan, and Russia Electricity became the primary source of power for factories, farms, and homes Mass production, particularly of consumer goods Use of electrical power saw electronics enter the marketplace (electric lights, radios, fans, television sets)

Industrial Staffordshire

Problems of Polution

The Silent Highwayman - 1858

The New Industrial City

Early-19c London
by Gustave Dore

Worker Housing in Manchester

Major Landmarks
1960s the first landmark episode of toxic chemical pollution reported by Ms Rachel Carson Silent Spring. The effect of DDT residues on bird population Minamata Bay mercury poisoning Agent Orange used in chemical warfare in the Vietnam War Hazardous waste production in developed countries US, Netherlands, Japan 180, 100 and 5.5kg per capita per year

THE PROBLEM
Chemicals in the environment Natural chemical compounds Atmospheric pollutants Water contamination Solid Wastes Hazardous wastes

I) CHEMICALS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Agriculture use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers, hormones, antibiotics. contamination of ground and surface water heavy metals mercury, Cd, Pb effect on wildlife, biodiversity, flora and fauna Release of non-metals, metalloids, organic compounds, undergo processes in the atmosphere and transform into toxic compounds photochemical reaction, ozone depletion, acid rain, global warming.

II) ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTANTS

Ambient air quality very much lower and impact more pronounced in metropolitans and urban areas. Emissions from vehicles, thermal powerplants, industries, refineries. Indoor air pollution

Criteria : Air Pollutants

EPA uses six "criteria pollutants" as indicators of air quality EPA established for each of them a maximum concentration above which adverse effects on human health may occur.

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Criteria : air pollutants

Nitrogen Dioxide: NO2
brownish gas irritates the respiratory system originates from combustion (N2 in air is oxidized); NOx sum of NO, NO2, other oxides of N Causes bronchitis, pneumonia precursor both to ozone (O3) and acid rain oxidation of the primary air pollutant nitric oxide (NO) The two major emissions sources are transportation and stationary fuel combustion sources such as electric utility and industrial boilers.

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 Ozone: ground level O3

primary constituent of urban smog concentrations of O3 at ground level are a major health and environmental concern reaction of VOC + NOx in presence of heat +sun light = ozone Peak O3 levels occur typically during the warmer times of the year. Both VOCs and NOx are emitted by transportation and industrial sources. VOCs are emitted from sources as diverse as autos, chemical manufacturing, dry cleaners, paint shops and other sources using solvents. The reactivity of O3 causes health problems because it damages lung tissue, reduces lung function and sensitizes the lungs to other irritants.

 Carbon monoxide (CO)

colorless, odorless and poisonous gas produced by incomplete burning of carbon in fuels. When CO enters the bloodstream, it reduces the delivery of oxygen to the body's organs and tissues. Health threats are most serious for those who suffer from cardiovascular disease, particularly those with angina or peripheral vascular disease. Exposure to elevated CO levels can cause impairment of visual perception, manual dexterity, learning ability and performance of complex tasks. 77% of the nationwide CO emissions are from transportation sources

 Lead: Pb
cause learning disabilities in children , toxic to liver, kidney, blood forming organs Exposure to lead (Pb) can occur through multiple pathways, including inhalation of air and ingestion of Pb in food, water, soil or dust. Excessive Pb exposure can cause seizures, mental retardation and/or behavioral disorders Lead gasoline additives, non-ferrous smelters, and battery plants are the most significant contributors to atmospheric Pb emissions tetraethyl lead anti knock agent in gasoline leaded gasoline has been phased out
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 Sulfur dioxide (SO2) - affects breathing and may aggravate existing respiratory and
cardiovascular disease. Sensitive populations - asthmatics, individuals with bronchitis or emphysema, children and the elderly. primary contributor to acid deposition, or acid rain, which causes acidification of lakes and streams and can damage trees, crops, historic buildings and statues. visibility impairment Ambient SO2 results largely from stationary sources such as coal and oil combustion, steel mills, refineries, pulp and paper mills and from nonferrous smelters.

 Particulate Matter: PM10 (PM 2.5fine)

respiratory disorders industrial and residential combustion and vehicle exhaust Sources of Coarse particles - wind-blown dust, vehicles traveling on unpaved roads, materials handling, and crushing and grinding operations. Air pollutants called particulate matter include dust, dirt, soot, smoke and liquid droplets directly emitted into the air by sources such as factories, power plants, cars, construction activity, fires and natural windblown dust.

 Sulfur Dioxide: SO2 formed when fuel (coal, oil) containing S is burned and metal smelting precursor to acid rain along with Nox SO2 is also a primary contributor to acid deposition, or acid rain Health problems aggravates respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease Visibility impairment Sources coal and oil combustion; steel mills, refineries, pulp and paper mills and from nonferrous smelters.

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Pollutants diffusion, coagulation, reaction, sedimentation, condensation

deposition Volatilization, sprays, musts

Atmosphere
Particles Masses Air
deposition
terrestrial Uptake
Bioaccumulation

Volatilization, dust

Release soil water

Uptake plants animals

Bioaccumulation

Soil solids sorption

organisms

Soil solids sorption

microorganisms release release

Release Soil water

Erosion and Run-off

Irrigation

BIOTECHNOLOGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Biotech methods used in :
assessing the well-being of ecosystems transformation of pollutants to benign substances generate biodegradeable materials develop eco-friendly manufacturing and dsiposal processes

 Biotechnology technology that employs biomaterials and biological principles to produce beneficial products of human need. In the environmental arena, it has added a new dimension in pollution biosurveillance, bio-sensing and bio-abatement using GMOs with upgraded efficiency yo scavenge pollutants Minimization of pollution load. Better understanding of the mechanisms of pollutant action at cellular and molecular levels biomagnification, biomethylation of toxic metals. DDT concentration in dolphins is 1000 times more than sea water

Plant based bioremediation & transgenics Microbe-based Bioremediation

Phytoremediation
Ex- situ Bioremediation

Process Engineering

Engineering molecular protein biosensor & microassay

In-situ Bioremediation

Molecular biology catabolic genes and proteins

Toxicology, Toxicogenomics and Detoxification

Biochemistry Catabolic Proteins and Intermediate Metabolites

ENVIRONMENT Air, Water, and Soil

Biotechnology

Bioenvironment & Engineering Environmental Biotechnology

Microbiology and microbial ecology

Chemistry inorganic and Organic