Bacteria are the Newest Tools to Detect Environmental Damage

Bacteria aren't always a bad thing, and a new study is showing us why. Scientists have used bacteria as the newest tool in detecting environmental damage.

"Bacteria can be a great bio-sensor for the environment," said Terry Hazen, one of the researchers, in a news release. "Critically, even if you can't see the contaminant, the bacteria will react a certain way if pollutants have been there in the past."

Knowing that bacteria respond to their changing environment in predictable ways, the researchers used DNA sequencing and gene tracking to come up with a model to help predict contamination.

"By using the latest techniques in DNA sequencing we can determine the community structure and model it to test for contamination," said Hazen. "We've used it on our testing grounds of 93 well clusters in Oak Ridge with hundreds of different parameters and were able to get consistent results for uranium, nitrate and pH concentrations in the groundwater. It also accurately predicted oil in water samples taken during the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico."

In fact, the researchers found that the process can be done and the results returned overnight for up to 100 or so tests a night. This is particularly useful in order to test water supplies. For example, someone considering seaside construction who wants to know if there has ever been an oil spill can use the new method to be sure about the environmental health of the area.

The findings are published in the journal mBio.

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