Environmental microbiology

• Published in: Physical Sciences Reviews
• Main Authors: Briški, Felicita, Vuković Domanovac, Marija
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Walter de Gruyter GmbH 2017
• Subjects: General Physics and Astronomy; General Materials Science; General Chemistry; Sea ice
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/psr-2016-0118; http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/psr.2017.2.issue-11/psr-2016-0118/psr-2016-0118.xml; http://www.degruyter.com/view/j/psr.2017.2.issue-11/psr-2016-0118/psr-2016-0118.pdf

Abstract For most people, microorganisms are out of sight and therefore out of mind but they are large, extremely diverse group of organisms, they are everywhere and are the dominant form of life on planet Earth. Almost every surface is colonized by microorganisms, including our skin; however most of them are harmless to humans. Some microorganisms can live in boiling hot springs, whereas others form microbial communities in frozen sea ice. Among their many roles, microorganisms are necessary for biogeochemical cycling, soil fertility, decomposition of dead plants and animals and biodegradation of many complex organic compounds present in the environment. Environmental microbiology is concerned with the study of microorganisms in the soil, water and air and their application in bioremediation to reduce environmental pollution through the biological degradation of pollutants into non-toxic or less toxic substances. Field of environmental microbiology also covers the topics such as microbially induced biocorrosion, biodeterioration of constructing materials and microbiological quality of outdoor and indoor air.