Dissemination
of information on microorganisms and its application
in environmental management through net enabled technology |
N.
Godhantaraman & N. Munuswamy
ENVIS Centre, Department of Zoology
University of Madras
Guindy Campus
Chennai - 600 025.
Email: enviscoordinator@gmail.com
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Information
is a vital tool for any decision making process for
Environmental Management. Environmental Information
System (ENVIS) is one of the largest network on environmental
information. The inception of ENVIS programme and its
network with premier educational and research organizations
and NGOs provide national and international environmental
information to policy makers, academia, researchers
and the general public throughout the country. |
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ENVIS
Centre on 'Microorganisms and Environment Management'
is one of the thrust areas which is mainly responsible
for the collection, collation and dissemination of information/literature/technology
on the biodiversity of microorganisms and its potential
applications in environmental clean-up activities. Microbes
are ubiquitous in nature and are being exposed to the
continuous release of more and more recalcitrant xenobiotic
compounds into the environment. Despite their various
crucial roles in the biosphere, the catalytic potential
of microorganisms in nature is enormous. However, lack
of awareness of the use of microbes in environmental
clean up activities is due to the lack of facility to
access desired up-dated information on microorganism
through net-based technology. In realizing these facts,
the ENVIS Centre has developed a web-site with a huge
database on microorganisms and its various activities
in environment management. This was done in order to
disseminate the resources for the benefit of user community
and to achieve better sustainable development. This
will eventually create healthy un-polluted environment
for mankind |
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In
general, environmental management has become a major
and serious issue for all nations. On careful analysis
we found that global population explosions was clearly
responsible for the increase of various toxic pollutants
in the environment and subsequent environmental degradation.
In order to meet their basic requirements to lead a
comfortable healthy life, mankind is fully exploiting
the natural resources using modern technology and also
putting tremendous pressure on air, water and land resources.
Mushrooming of various industries, automobiles, etc.,
is also resulting in discharge of hazardous substances,
chemical wastes etc., into the environment, causing
health hazards and environmental degradation. Besides
that, many novel synthetic compounds (xenobiotics) have
been introduced into the environment through human activites.
Many of these compounds are toxic to living systems
and communities. They seriously disturb the aquatic
and terrestrial habitats and cause heavy ecological
damages, and distraction of major indigenous biota.
At this juncture, it is very difficult to control or
degrade these pollutants by a single organism or biological
treatment, although different biological treatment methods
have been proposed to restore the degraded environment.
Among them, microorganisms have the potential to degrade
and reduce the various pollutants through the processes
of biodegradation and bioremediation |
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Biodiversity of microbes |
Microorganisms
inhabit virtually every niche in the biosphere and they
are the most adaptative group of organisms that are
able to survive in almost all environments (e.g. Antarctic
region, thermal vent ecosystem etc.). Microorganisms
form a vast community with a diversity of protozoa,
algae, fungi, bacteria and viruses that are well associated
with all plants and animals, being also responsible
for their well being. Many of them are beneficial to
human beings, and used in almost all industries such
health care products, drug industry, food industry,
agricultural sectors etc |
In
marine ecosystem, these organisms provide links in the
food chain, providing energy or nutrients to all higher
organisms, in addition to decomposition and material
recycling. Marine viruses may also play an important
role by controlling the over growth of harmful bacterial
populations which cause heavy damage to the marine food
chain. Thus, microbes are essential for the maintenance
of aquatic life |
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Microorganisms and environment management |
Despite
their various crucial roles in the biosphere, the catalytic
potential of microorganisms in nature is enormous and
they are able to degrade various pollutants and wastes
which cause serious environmental degradation. Using
microbes in environmental clean up activities is of
significance. They are called as 'anti-polluters' that
metabolize toxic substances and remove recalcitrant
compounds present in the pollutant. They are also required
for the biogeochemical cycles that recycle chemicals
between living organisms and the physical environment |
Bioremediation
and biodegradation are the processes where in microbes
degrade and recycle materials that pose dangers to the
community and the ecosystem/environment. The key players
in bioremediation are bacteria (e.g. Pseudomonas sp
bacterium, methanotrophic bacteria), that are virtually
everywhere. It is a biological process and globally
recognized as effective and environmentally sound technology
to clean up or remove hazardous wastes, mixtures of
organic contaminants and restore our environmental quality
for sustainable environment management. Moreover, this
is the only technique where multi disciplinary approaches
such as chemistry, microbiology, geology, environmental
science and engineering, chemical engineering, soil
science and biotechnology are involved. Hence, bioremediation
technique may help to solve complicated environmental
problems and other countless problems caused by environmental
pollutants. |
Biodegradation
is another process in which microorganisms or their
enzymes breakdown the toxic chemical substances into
smaller non-toxic substances. Through microbial biodegradation,
petroleum hydrocarbons can be degraded in the oiled
coastal ecosystems (e.g. Pseudomonas sp. and Raulstonia
sp.Planococcus halophilus). Earlier studies indicate
that microorganisms have the capacity to degrade 10
tons of oil per/day in the oil polluted area. |
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Application of information technology
in environment management |
Information
technology is a fascinating area which brings social
changes as well. The introduction of new information
technologies into a broad range of human activities
seems to have an impact on human communication and the
structure of human organization. Use of information
technology in any field of studies has become a vital
skill in today's world. Spreading knowledge and sharing
information are essential components in any field. As
mentioned earlier due to the growing economic pressure
and industrial revolution, our environment is facing
serious problems. The degradation of environment by
a variety of pollutants has drawn the attention of the
scientific community, policy makers and the general
public, to restore our environment for sustainable management.
Awareness is being created by spreading knowledge and
information on environment and related issues on a global
scale. Information technology offers links to many sources
of information on environmental issues, sustainable
management and remedial measures |
Due
to increase of industrialization and rapid economic
growth, we are facing many issues such as global warming,
climate change, high carbon emission, sea level rising,
ecological imbalance, loss of biodiversity, tsunami
disaster, etc. It is important that all nations need
come together to frame appropriate strategies/polices
to restore the environment. In the past, there has been
many conventions/treaties/programs such as Rio de Janeiro
conference on environmental management; Agenda 21, Kyoto
Protocol, Global Carbon Project, where each country
has framed appropriate program to address various environmental
issues |
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Environmental Information System
(ENVIS) |
India
is a leading economy power in the Asian region giving
due importance to both industrialization and environment
management. The Ministry of Environment & Forests,
Government of India is implementing various programs
for creating environmental awareness and management
plans to conserve our vast fragile terrestrial as well
as aquatic environment. Environmental Information System
(ENVIS) is one of the world's largest networks on environmental
information. The inception of the ENVIS programme and
its network with premier educational and research organizations
and NGOs are providing national and international environmental
information to policy makers, academicians, researchers
and the general public throughout the country. Under
this network, there are 78 Centers on different thematic
areas and working with the common objectives of collection,
collation, storage, retrieval and dissemination of environmental
related information to larger user community through
the use of Information and Communication Technologies |
The
ENVIS Centre functioning in the Department of Zoology
has developed a web-site (www.envismadrasuniv.org; www.dzumenvis.nic.in
). This website has many features such as counter action,
referral services, discussion form, conferences, e-resources,
research reports. It has also annexed its services with
web-links to organizations both national and international
& with government departments working on the assigned
subject area (see the first page view of the ENVIS web-site).
It also provides links with all ENVIS partners functioning
in various Universities, research institutions, Government
and non-Governmental organizations in different thematic
areas. The ENVIS Centre has developed databases on the
thematic area such as reference/abstract database, experts
directory database of microbiologists, bibliographic
database, database on research activities on microbes
(Ph.D thesis, research projects, reports, monographs/manuals).
Further we have created a database on the biodiversity
of microbes (isolation, habitat, ecological significance)
and marine microbes. |
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>In
order to involve the participation of local community,
general public including younger generation on environmental
management activities, the ENVIS Centre has successfully
developed a separate web-site (www.envismicrobes.org)
in vernacular language (Tamil) to create awareness among
the local people. This will help them to understand
the basic concept of microorganism and its importance
on environment management |
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Outline of ENVIS activities and Services
to user community |
The
ENVIS Centre strives to provide valuable information,
up-to-date references, technological applications and
solutions on the assigned subject area to user community
through online and offline services. The outline of
our ENVIS activities and services are as follows:- |
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- Establishment of a data bank on some selected
parameters relating to the subject area
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- Coordination with the Focal Point for the
supply of relevant, adequate and timely information
to the users
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- Bringing out newsletters in specific subject
area for wide dissemination
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- Publication of ENVIS-Centre Newsletter
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- Compilation and publication of abstracts
and other documents on 'Microorganisms and Environment
Management '
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- Establishing linkages with all ENVIS Centers
and other relevant organizations
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- Providing information on forthcoming conference/symposia/jobs
related information on its assigned subject area
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- Query and Answering services
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The Role of Microbes on Environment
Management - Future Research Areas |
Emphasis
has to be made especially on microbial diversity, the
largest untapped reservoir in the biosphere. Through
biotechnological applications, microorganisms can be
used for the discovery of new biotechnology products
essential for pharmaceuticals, synthesis of new enzymes,
chemicals and new organisms that carry out novel processes.
A team of Japanese researchers have proved that microorganisms
are able to control the global warming by removing the
carbon di oxide from the atmosphere. This will help
maintain the level of atmospheric carbon di oxide. Thus
carbon di oxide can be reduced sufficiently in the atmosphere |
Study
of the biodiversity of microorganisms and its potential
applications, provide large scope for development of
new strains through genetically engineered microbes/recombinant
DNA technology. These unique combinations may be able
to degrade complicated pollutants prevalent in the environment.
Further, creating awareness among general public and
providing up-dated information on biodiversity of microorganisms
and its various applications are essential to our society
for a sustainable eco-friendly and pollution free environment. |
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