Final answer:
Bioremediation is the process of using organisms to remedy an environmental problem, and involves organisms like plants and bacteria to clean up pollutants, often resulting in less toxic byproducts. Option D. Environmental Biorepair is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Bioremediation
The process of using living organisms to solve an environmental problem is known as bioremediation. This innovative method involves utilizing various organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, or plants, to remediate contaminated environments.
For instance, certain bacteria have the ability to degrade hazardous substances into less toxic forms, making them invaluable allies in efforts to clean polluted sites. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized bioremediation as a treatment that leverages naturally occurring organisms to mitigate the harmful impacts of hazardous substances.
An example of bioremediation is the use of plants to extract toxic metals from soils, particularly those affected by mining operations. This green technology is a sustainable and effective approach to address contamination without resorting to more invasive and potentially harmful methods.
Overall, bioremediation is an integral part of efforts to revitalize and preserve ecosystems affected by anthropogenic activities such as heavy industry or improper waste management.
To exemplify its scope, bioremediation includes not only the use of prokaryotes to clean up pollutants but also their employment for fixing nitrogen in the soil, acting as natural fertilizers. In pest management, the use of organisms to control pest species also falls under the larger umbrella of bioremediation practices, indirectly aiding the restoration of ecological balance.