All industrial countries around the world are littered with the legacy of old industrial sites, waste dumps etc., which have frequently contaminated the soils by toxic compounds. These contaminants have also entered the streams, lakes, rivers, estuaries and ground waters, in spite of the major efforts from the different agencies to protect the nation's waterbodies from toxic chemicals. Although several techniques have been employed to detoxify these sites, very little has been done to exploit the plant-influenced site bioremediation of contaminated sediments.
Bayou d'Inde, a tributary of the Calcasieu River in Southwestern Louisiana is chosen as the site of the proposed research. Recent investigations by Cunningham et al. (1900) have shown that the water-column and sediments of this tributary have been contaminated by several heavy metals and halogenated organic compounds. Some of these contaminants are sequestered at high concentrations in aquatic organisms, especially in seafood species, which is considered to be of great concern from a public health point of view. This, the purpose of the proposed research is to investigate and establish a plant-assisted (phytoremediation) system with the aid of plant biotechnology to enhance the uptake, accumulation and degradation of organic (halogenated) and inorganic (heavy metals) contaminants of Bayou d'Inde tributary and other sites, similar in nature.
The objectives of the proposed research are: a) the development of a plant cell and tissue culture system in order to select plant cells with higher tolerance to selected heavy metals and organic compound(s) from most successful plant species established in the Bayou dâInde tributary; and b) the investigation of the possible extent of transport or uptake, accumulation and biodegradation of selected heavy metals and halogenated organic compound(s) by tolerant and sensitive cells, and regenerated plants. Moreover, this project is also designed to provide an excellent opportunity for minority students to learn different techniques in the area of Environmental Biotechnology.
The anticipated results of the proposed project will be the development of cells and eventually plants with enhanced ability of phytoremediation of sediments, which are heavily polluted by heavy metals and halogenated organic compound(s). It is also expected that this research will help minority students in further pursuing their careers in environmental research. The contaminants and their plant-assisted remediation to be studied in this proposal are not unique to the Bayou dâInde tributary but concern other contaminated sediments nationwide. Therefore, the expected results of this study will have much greater significance and broader applicability.
Training Potential: A major goal of this study will be to ensure minority students participation. Minority students will be an integral part of this project throughout the course of this investigation. This project will support two students (one graduate and one undergraduate). These students will receive training in environmental plant biotechnology dealing with heavy metals and organic contaminants in the environment. These areas have been recognized as high priority areas requiring professionals with relatively high level of skills. The trained individuals in this field are already in short supply to satisfy the increasing needs of private companies, consulting firms, federal and state agencies (U.S. DOE 1989). Thus, this project will train personnel by giving them an exposure to environmental problems and their solutions. In addition, some high school students have also shown their interest in doing their science project in the area of environmental science.