Wouldn't it be amazing if there was a natural none- invasive way of cleaning up pollution in our environment. A method that would positively impact other species, and not kill them in the process.

Bioremediation has been used for centuries throughout the world. Bioremediation is any process that uses micro-organisms, plants, fungi or their enzymes to return a polluted environment to a less polluted state.

One form of bioremediation is called Mycoremediation. It is a newer science started around the beginning of the 20^th century. It is the process of using fungi to remove or break down toxins in an environment.

Mycoremediation is a combination of two words,

Myco is for mycology the study of fungus (mushrooms)

Remediation is the correction of something bad.

It was coined by Paul Stamets, who is the leader in this field. He has written several books one titled, “Mycelium Running - How mushrooms can save the world.”

In this book he comments “Fungi are the grand recyclers of our planet, the mycomagicians, dissembling large organic molecules into simpler forms, which in turn nourish other members of the ecological community. Fungi are the interface organisms between life and death.”

There are certain types of fungi being studied such as oyster mushrooms. Oyster Mushrooms have been able to remove toxins such as oil, radiation, pesticides, petroleum products, PCB’s, and other pollutants.

So how does it work?

There is more to the mushroom than just what you see above ground. Under the soil there is a vegetative part of fungus called mycelium. Mycelium is a mass of thread like hyphae.

Hypha (plural hyphae) is a long, branching filamentous structure of a fungus. The mycelium stretches out and grows as long as it can gain nutrients. A mushroom is the fruiting body that will grow off the mycelium when the conditions are right.

The mycelium grows and form mycelial mats. These mycelial mats are the key. The mycelia are the magic.

There are three ways to apply the science of Mycoremediation on a toxic area.

1.) Mixing mycelium into contaminated soil

2.) Placing the mycelial mats over the toxic sites

3.) Or a combination of these techniques, in one or

more treatments.

Once applied the natural processes of nature take place. The mycelium will break the toxins down then digest them. When heavy metals need to be removed from the soil the mycelium will fruit. The fruit bodies (mushrooms) absorb the toxins as nutrients.

Studies have shown that after treatment life will return to a previously toxic non inhabitable area. More studies are currently underway to test mycelium against radiation in the soil in Japan.

There are still many questions and much to learn. Mycoremediation is still a new branch of bioremediation. The lack of information in the field has caused it to advance slowly but the research continues and grows.

It is important for our species to look for new opportunities to live a sustainable life with the environment around us. We need more options not more man-made chemicals.

Interested in Mycoremediation?

Here are some great links:

Mycoremediation and Its Applications to Oil Spills -http://www.realitysandwich.com/mycoremediation_and_oil_spills

Fungi.com – www.fungi.com