hafiz m waseem

1. LOWER MALL CAMPUS LAHORE

2. ROLE OF MICROBES IN POLLUTION
INDICATION

3. Contents:
• Introduction
• History
• Microbes
1. Algae
2. Fungi
3. Lichens
4. Animal like Microbes
5. Bacteria
6. Viruses
• Conclusion
• References

4. INTRODUCTION:
Pollution:
Addition of harmful materials into the natural
environment.

5. Bioindicators:
 Bioindicators are the living organisms which are
utilized to screen the health of natural ecosystem in
the environment.
 Example: E. faecalis and E. faecium bacteria.

6. History:
Indicator organisms term was coined by mid to
late 1800s due to various water born diseases
cause by consumption of poor quality of water.
Use of intestinal streptococcal organisms as
pollution indicators was first recognized
by Lawes, Andrewes (1894) and Houston
(1900).
Winslow and Hunnewell (1902) have also
observed that these organisms were consistently
present in the feces of all warm-blooded animals
and in water contaminated with fecal material.

7. MICROBES As Bioindicators
1. Algae
2. Fungi
3. Lichens
4. Animals like microorganisms
5. Bacteria
6. Viruses

8. Algae:
Although indicator organisms can be any
biological species that defines a trait or
characteristics of the environment, algae are
known to be good indicators of pollution of
many types for the following reasons:
1. Abundance and wide distribution
2. Easily available
3. Quick response
4. Easier to detect and sample.
5. The presence of some algae are well correlated
with particular type of pollution particularly to
organic pollution.

9. Algae:
Good Indicators of water quality.
Single celled and freshwater algae.
Blue-green algae.
Diatom species.
Fragilaria Stephanodiscus

10. Algae:
Microalgae occur abundantly in nature they are
very easy to culture.
Euglena gracilis
Good indicator of clean water.

11. Fungi:
 The fungi very easily reflect to changes in
environment especially in the soil. e.g. they
accumulate radionuclides in their fruit bodies in a
specific way deviating from that of heavy metals.
 Mycorrhizal fungi.

12. Sewage Fungus:
Sewage fungus is a mass of filamentous
bacteria.
Sewage fungus ditch course
Examples: Sphaerotilus natans, Beggiotoa
alba, Fusarium aquaeductuum etc.

13. Lichens:
 Lichens are the most widely used bioindicators for
pollution indication. They can detect and monitor a
lots of pollutants such as SO2, metals, high nitrogen
deposition, organic pollutants and radionuclides.
 Lichens are sensitive to atmospheric pollution such as
nitrogen oxide pollutants because they receive all
their nutrients and water from wet and dry
atmospheric deposition.

14. Lichens:
 Forest Environment
 Air Pollution
Lobaria Ramalina

15. Lichens:
Acid rain became a recognized international
problem during 1980s resulting from
dispersion of air pollutants via tall chimney
stacks.

16. 3. ANIMALS LIKE
MICROORGANISMS AS A
POLLUTION INDICATORS

17. BLOOD WORMS AND SLUDGE WORMS
 eutrophication
 decreases the oxygen concentration
 some animals are adapted for surviving in polluted conditions
and can survive in low oxygen concentrations.
 Examples are blood worms and sludge worms. The presence
of these species indicates there is a high level of water
pollution.

18. MICROBIAL SYSTEM
Microorganisms are diverse group of organisms
found in large quantities and are easier to detect
and sample.
 The presence of some microorganisms is well
correlated with particular type of pollution and it
serves as standard indicator of pollution.

19. Protozoa
 Approximately 4% in wastewater
 They are single-celled aerobic microorganisms.
 They improve clarity by digesting suspended particles and bacteria.
 They are sensitive to
 temperature,
 pH,
 dissolved oxygen,
 and nutrient availability.
 The presence of certain protozoa are indicators of treatment system performance. Nutrient
deficiencies or low dissolved oxygen content will limit the number and type of protozoa.

20. Ciliated protozoa
 ciliated protozoa of fresh-water is bivalve molluscs .
 they detect organic pollution.
 Heterocinetopsis unioni darum, responds rapidly to unfavorable conditions.
 they are sensitive biological indicators and their potential to warn of impending
and possibly irreversible environmental change are discussed.
Ciliated protozoa

21. Flagellates
 Like amoebae, flagellates are present during start-up.
 They feed on soluble organic matter and dispersed bacteria.
 flagellates decline when bacteria begin reproducing, out-competing them
for nutrients.
 They appear in lagoons that have low dissolved oxygen content and high
soluble BOD. Because they feed on dead microorganisms, a bloom of
flagellates is a good indicator of toxicity, high loading, pond turnover, or an
increase in BOD
Flagellates

22. Ciliates
 Ciliates remove suspended and free-dispersed bacteria. Free-swimming
ciliates begin to appear as flagellates begin to disappear.
 Crawling ciliates dominate in a well-balanced activated sludge process. They
graze on floc particles and feed on bacteria at the edges of floc.
 As sludge matures, colonial stalked ciliates dominate single-stalked ciliates.
If the sludge matures too long, nutrients and bacteria become unavailable
and protozoa-eating protozoa, such as the suctoria, dominate.
Crawling ciliates
ciliates

23. Amoebae,
 amoebae, which are present early in the process, die off as
food decreases.
 Because they feed on solid particles in the water, large
numbers of amoebae present in the aeration basin discharge
are an indicator of a shock load of BOD, large amounts of
particulates, and/or low oxygen.
Amoebae

24. Metazoa
 Only 1% of the microorganisms in wastewater.
 they are multi-cellular aerobic microorganisms.
 They feed on bacteria, algae, and protozoa.
 Metazoa are affected by toxins. Like protozoa, the presence and activity of specific
metazoa indicates the treatment system environment.
Metazoa

25. Rotifers, tardigrades
 ROTIFERS produce a sticky secretion that helps keep floc clumped together.
 They are usually the first affected by toxins.
 Tardigrades (water bear), which feed on algae and small protozoa, are also sensitive to
toxins but can survive environmental extremes.
 The presence of tardigrades indicates long sludge age, good BOD degradation, and low
ammonia levels.
Rotifers
tardigrades

26. Nematodes,
 They feed on bacteria, protozoa, fungus, and other nematodes.
 They tunnel through floc, slime, and biofilm, increasing oxygen penetration,
preventing excess build up, and keeping it porous.
 Their presence, growth, and movement are bioindicators of long sludge age,
changes in wastewater conditions.
 They are sensitive to anoxic conditions, and their population decreases in warm
temperatures.
 Like water bears, aquatic flatworms can survive humidity and temperature
extremes, but they are sensitive to low dissolved oxygen levels as well as toxins.
 The presence of tubiflex, or sludge worms, is an indication of pollution.
Nematodes,
aquatic flatworms

27. Cladocera
 water fleas (Daphnia), which are related to shrimp, are present in clean lagoon effluent.
 They consume algae and bacteria.
 They can control issues caused by excessive algae, but not without affecting the dissolved
oxygen content.
 In oxygen-deficient environments, they turn pink or red as they produce hemoglobin.
 water fleas may leave red streaks in a lagoon, which indicates low dissolved oxygen.
 Water fleas are highly sensitive to toxicity and ammonia.
red Cladocera
Cladocera

28. Copepods
 They are crustaceans found in clean lagoon effluent that is free of toxins.
 Copepods are opportunistic feeders that eat small organic particles that drift
toward them.
 They thrive in a stable wastewater environment with high dissolved oxygen and low
bacteria
Copepods

29. 4. BACTERIA AS A
POLLUTION INDICATORS

30. BACTERIA
Daphnia
 95% of the microorganisms in wastewater.
 They are single-celled microorganisms, classified based on their response to oxygen.
 As anaerobic bacteria break down sludge, they produce methane gas.
 when nutrient levels are high Bacteria are dispersed, reproducing, growing, and actively seeking out
food.
 As nutrient levels drop, bacteria slow down and develop a slime layer on their cell walls. This slime layer
causes bacteria to clump or floc, forming masses that settle and separate from wastewater liquids.
Daphnia

31. Copepod
 When nutrient levels remain high, the bacteria remain dispersed and do not form floc.
 Nutrient levels that are too low interfere with the development of the cell wall, which results
in floc dispersion, sludge bulking, slime bulking, and foaming
Copepod

32. Filamentus bacteria
 They grow in long hair-like strands, connecting together to form a web that is important in floc
formation. Excessive growth of filamentous bacteria can interfere with settling, causing bulking and
foaming.
 Filamentous bulking may occur upon recovery from a toxic load as filamentous bacteria recover faster
than floc-forming bacteria.
 These indicator of changes in
 pH
 temperature
 available nutrients
 sludge load, and
 dissolved oxygen.
Filamentus bacteria

33. 5.VIRUSES AS A POLLUTION
INDICATORS

34. Mild mottle virus
 Assessment of Prevalence and Concentration in Different Water Environments in Italy
 Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), a plant pathogenic virus.
 family Virgoviridae, viral indicator for human faecal pollution in aquatic environments.
Mild mottle virus
Pepper mild mottle
virus (PMMoV),

35. Pediatric pneumonia,
• For pediatric pneumonia, the meteorological and air pollution indicators have
been frequently investigated for their association with viral circulation but not for
their impact on disease severity.
Pediatric pneumonia,

36. Coronavirus:
 Air pollution and CO2 fall rapidly as virus spreads.
 Levels of air pollutants and warming gases drops as coronavirus impacts work and travel.
 Researchers in New York showed carbon monoxide reduced by nearly 50% compared with
last year.
Coronavirus:

37.  presence, absence, excessive occurrence, and activities of
microorganisms signify wastewater condition throughout
the stages of treatment.
 cost-effective and efficient way.
 bioremediations can be made as necessary.
 new technologies released into the environment.
 genetically engineered microorganisms.
 biotechnology contribute in the remediation and
protection of the environment.
CONCLUSION

38. REFRENCES
J Németh-Katona (2008). The Environmental Significance of
Bioindicators in Sewage Treatment,
https://www.uni-obuda.hu/journal/Nemethne-Katona_15.pdf
P Madoni (2009). Protozoa in wastewater treatment processes: A
minireview, Italian Journal of Zoology
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/11250000903373797