Worms may help fight oil pollution

Source: The Herald (Plymouth, England), November 20, 2013
Posted on: http://envfpn.advisen.com

MARINE worms are the latest ally in the battle against oil pollution in the sea.
Plymouth scientists are studying how the burrowing creatures help speed up the breakdown of oil by microbes.
The research is going on at the Marine Biological Association (MBA) as part of a new European consortium, developing novel biotechnological ways of tackling oil spills.
The close links between MBA scientists and oil and technology firms – through the European Union-funded Kill-Spill group – are paying off as the city researchers move towards a ‘green’ solution. One of the partner groups in Messina, Italy, sent polluted sediment samples to the laboratory in Citadel Hill on the Hoe, where the oil-degrading microbes will be analysed to see how they respond to ragworms. The leader of Kill Spill’s MBA research group, Michael Cunliffe, said: “Burrowing marine worms have much the same effect as earthworms do in garden soil. As well as bringing oxygen down into the sediment, worms mix things up and accelerate natural microbial breakdown.”
 

Find a Broker or Underwriter

Search by product, location or name
https://premium.insurancebusinessmag.com/us-iba-5-star-wholesale-brokers-and-mgas-2023-rt-specialty/p/1https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/most-loved-workplaces-america-2023https://www.insurancebusinessmag.com/us/best-insurance/best-insurance-companies-to-work-for-in-the-us--top-insurance-employers-2023-453773.aspx

Please Update Your Browser

Unfortunately Microsoft is no longer providing support or security fixes for your web browser. RT Specialty values the safety and security of its clients’ data, and as such this site requires the use of a modern web browser. To update your web browser, please see the links below. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please email info@rtspecialty.com or call (312) 784-6001.

Firefox Firefox Chrome Chrome IE Internet Explorer Edge Microsoft Edge