The Micro-organisms That Break down Oil

In 2010, almost 800 million liters of crude oil leaked into the Gulf of Mexico after a drilling rig exploded and sank. Yet, within months much of the contamination had disappeared. How was that possible?

Scientist research has shown that an array of marine bacteria can break down the long—chain carbon molecules present in oil. Professor Terry Hazen, an environmental biologist, described these organisms as “oil—seeking missiles”. Such organisms were partly responsible for what took place in the Gulf of Mexico, as described at the outset.

In a sense, it is no surprise that the seas should host oil-hungry microbes,,,says a BBC report on the topic. After all, “natural seeps from the ocean floor have been releasing oil into the world’s waters” for aeons.

Granted, human efforts in cleaning oil spills are productive. Yet, man’s best efforts to clean up oil spills may do more harm than good. Chemical dispersants interfere with natural processes that break down oil. Added to that, such chemicals are toxic and have lasting ill effects on the environment. But the nature’s oil—decomposing capacity, including oil—hungry microbes, enables the sea to activate a self cleansing process without negative side effects of the artificial methods.

Did the oil—devouring property of marine micro-organism come about by chance?

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