Question

What is an advantage of in-situ bioremediation as a means of eliminating contaminants over chemical decomposition and excavation?

A) It allows for off-site processing.
B) The by-products of bioremediation are always less toxic than the original contaminant.
C) It can prove less expensive than other technologies for clean-up.
D) It is the quickest way to eliminate contaminants from a site.

Answer 1

In-situ bioremediation is less expensive than other clean-up technologies because it treats contaminants on site, utilizing microorganisms, without requiring removal and transport to elsewhere, thus avoiding costly and potentially hazardous chemical processes.

Step-by-step explanation:

An advantage of in-situ bioremediation over chemical decomposition and excavation in the elimination of contaminants is that it can prove less expensive than other technologies for clean-up. In-situ bioremediation involves the natural breakdown of pollutants at the site of contamination without the need for their removal, leveraging microbes such as bacteria and fungi. This method reduces costs associated with transport and processing at off-site facilities and avoids the use of potentially harmful chemical processes. Moreover, though not always the quickest, in-situ bioremediation can leads to the transformation of contaminants into less harmful by-products right in the environment where they are found.