These are some of the things that people should know about the history of bioremediation.  It is so old that it goes back to 600 years BC.  Ancient Romans were the first to use bioremediation.  They used bioremediation to get rid of the waste in the sewers.  

  Bioremediation started when scientists began to understand that pollution and toxic waste could be broken down by using different types of microbes. Scientists actually began studying the process back in the 1940s. The incredible thing about bioremediation is that it is a process to help nature by using natural microbes from bacteria and fungus to remove toxic waste. 

 In the 1960’s the US Office of Naval Research began to study bacteria that breaks down oil.  At the same time, George M Robinson was doing some experiments with bioremediation.  He experimented with dirty jars and oil sumps, using different mixtures of bacteria to break down pollution.  He was one of the first people to show that bioremediation could help with oil pollution without making it worse.

  In the 1970’s, Ananda Chakrabarty and a few other people did some experiments with Pseudomonas bacteria found in soil. This bacteria was special because it was able to break down some parts of crude oil.  His experiments led to the creation of an even better bacteria for helping oil pollution. We should do more experiments not just on oil but in water and soil because pollution is a threat to humans, animals, and our environment.