ClimateAugust 31, 2026
bioremediation
by-oh-ri-mee-dee-AY-shun
Definition
The use of biological organisms or biological processes to neutralize or remove environmental contaminants from soil, bedrock, or groundwater.
Etymology
The word is a combination of the prefix 'bio-' from the Greek 'bios' meaning 'life' and the noun 'remediation' from the Latin 'remediare' meaning 'to heal or cure', first appearing in scientific literature in the late 20th century.
In the news
The article describes how bioremediation is used to clean up large-scale contamination sites, specifically through 'bio-piles' where surfactants are used to accelerate the natural breakdown of pollutants.
Forever Chemicals, Finite Timelines: A Different Approach to PFAS Remediation
Read the full article ↗The Environment Journal