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Difficulty: EasyPollution Types, Causes, Effects, and Control

Crude oil spillage on marine ecosystems causes severe damage to aquatic life by forming an impenetrable surface layer. Which of the following methods represents an eco-friendly biological control measure used to clean up such oil spills?

  1. Introducing hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms to digest the oilAnswer
  2. B
    Spraying synthetic chemical dispersants to dissolve the floating oil
  3. C
    Igniting the surface crude oil to burn off the petroleum layer
  4. D
    Adding heavy inorganic salts to sink the oil slicks to the ocean floor

Answer

Introducing hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms to digest the oil
Bioremediation involves deploying living microorganisms, such as hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria, to metabolize and naturally break down complex petroleum hydrocarbons into non-toxic end products like carbon dioxide and water. This is an environmentally friendly biological control approach.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the nature of the environmental pollutant and the specified control requirement.
The pollutant is crude oil on ocean surfaces, and the requested solution must be a biological control method (bioremediation).
Biological control uses living organisms to mitigate environmental contaminants safely.
2
Evaluate the options for biological mechanisms.
Oil-degrading bacteria (such as species of Pseudomonas) use hydrocarbons as energy sources, breaking oil down into carbon dioxide and water.
Physical burning and chemical dispersants are non-biological methods that carry secondary ecological hazards.

Key Concept

Bioremediation of Oil Spills
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Pollution Types, Causes, Effects, and Control

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