Bioremedation uses naturally occurring microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, or yeast to decompose harmful chemicals into less toxic or nontoxic compounds. Many species of soil bacteria, for example, use petroleum hydrocarbons as a food and energy source. This natural process transforms the petroleum hydrocarbons into harmless substances consisting mainly of carbon dioxide, water and fatty acids. In Ohio, over 15,000 underground storage tanks that store petroleum, heating oil and other materials are leaking. Petroleum contaminated soil, unregulated and left to evaporate into the atmosphere, can release potentially harmful volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.
Petroleum products can seep into soil and contaminate underlying ground water.
Runoff from unregulated sites can carry petroleum contaminants off-site into nearby waterways. Ohio EPA considers bioremediation technology to be one safe solution to the PCS problem. Ohio EPA has strict emission standards to ensure permitted facilities don't negatively impact human health or the environment. While there are several treatment methods, there is no single technology that can be applied to every PCS site. The remdiation method applied should be most appropriate for specific site characteristics.