The NIEHS Superfund Research Program (SRP) is committed to protecting health by reducing exposures to hazardous substances in the environment. Cleaning up contaminated sites is one way to reduce exposures. Such cleanup is complicated and requires rigorous science, expertise in multiple disciplines, and sustainable approaches.

A key approach is remediation that uses renewable materials and less energy compared to existing cleanup technologies.

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable method that relies on living organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, and plants, to break down contaminants in water, soil, and sediments. Individual research projects (674KB), funded by SRP in 2020, are applying advances in materials science and engineering to improve current bioremediation techniques. The goal is to make cleanup faster, more effective, and safer by minimizing potentially harmful byproducts.

Through their efforts, these researchers are refining our understanding of the mechanisms of bioremediation and optimizing conditions to accelerate natural degradation processes.

Grantees described these projects, and many more, during the Spring 2022 SRP Progress in Research webinar series. In this newsletter, you can learn more about bioremediation research projects designed to protect health sustainably.

Kind regards,
William A. Suk, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Director
Superfund Research Program