Which of the following statements about oil spill cleanup is true?

Which of the following statements about oil spill cleanup is true?

• A. Siphoning and physical barriers
• B. Burning the oil in open air
• C. GMO bacteria can be used to metabolize oil
• D. There is no way to remove oil from water

Answer: (C)

Oil spills can be cleaned up by letting microbes do the work, since many bacteria can use oil as a food source. In bioremediation, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria metabolize oil, turning it into carbon dioxide and water when oxygen and nutrients are available. Some approaches even use engineered bacteria to enhance degradation or to produce substances that help oil mix with water and become more accessible to microbes. While releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment is tightly regulated, the idea that GM bacteria can be used to metabolize oil is scientifically valid and reflects real remediation strategies. In contrast, containment methods like siphoning and barriers are important for limiting spread but don’t remove oil by themselves, burning in open air can remove some oil but creates air pollution and isn’t always practical, and claiming there’s no way to remove oil is false.

Oil spills can be cleaned up by letting microbes do the work, since many bacteria can use oil as a food source. In bioremediation, hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria metabolize oil, turning it into carbon dioxide and water when oxygen and nutrients are available. Some approaches even use engineered bacteria to enhance degradation or to produce substances that help oil mix with water and become more accessible to microbes. While releasing genetically modified organisms into the environment is tightly regulated, the idea that GM bacteria can be used to metabolize oil is scientifically valid and reflects real remediation strategies. In contrast, containment methods like siphoning and barriers are important for limiting spread but don’t remove oil by themselves, burning in open air can remove some oil but creates air pollution and isn’t always practical, and claiming there’s no way to remove oil is false.