Consider the following statement about bioremediation: I. It may be defined as any process that uses micro-organisms or their enzymes to return the environment altered by contaminants to its original condition. II. Bioremediation may be employed in order to attack specific contaminants, such as chlorinated pesticides that are degraded by bacteria. Which of the statements given above is/are correc?

Bioremediation is defined as a process that utilizes microorganisms or their enzymes to return an environment altered by contaminants to its original condition [t1]. It involves using bacteria and fungi to degrade environmental contaminants into less toxic forms [c1]. Statement I is correct as it aligns with this standard definition of restoring environmental health through biological agents. Statement II is also correct; bioremediation is highly specific and can be employed to target particular contaminants [c3]. For instance, specific bacterial isolates have been identified and used to degrade persistent chlorinated pesticides, such as organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), which are otherwise toxic and persistent in the environment [t3][t7]. Research confirms that bacteria can perform redox reactions to metabolize these target contaminants, including chlorinated solvents and hydrocarbons, effectively reducing their concentration in soil and water [t2][t6].

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > 5.I3. BIOREMEDIATION > p. 99
2. [2] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 5: Environmental Pollution > Disadvantages of bioremediation > p. 101
3. [3] https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2015-04/documents/introductiontoinsitubioremediationofgroundwater_dec2013.pdf