Water pollution problems due to industrial effluents in aquatic environments are increasing day-by-day, as industrial effluent waste is degrading the ecosystem, global water cycle and environment. Applications of biological agents, along with physical, chemical and engineering processes to maintain, protect and restore the environment, are involved in environmental biotechnology (EB). Analytical analysis and tests like biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS) and total solids (TS), etc., are required to assess the pollution load and strength of waste to be treated in the most efficient manner. Biological waste water treatment plant coupled with genetically engineered microbes which can act more efficiently to degrade toxic and harmful substances and material may be improved by employing EB. During bioremediation, genetically engineered strains of Deinococcus radiodurans can detoxify mercury and degrade toluene in radioactive environments. Genetically engineered species of microbes improve overall biodegradation through initial proximity. Biological treatment, bioremediation and natural attenuation have been a rapidly growing area of science over the past decade. Natural attenuation is viewed as the best solution for cleaning up many waste sites and will save billions of dollars in cleanup costs. The types of contaminants that EB investigators have expertise in include chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, TNT, inorganic nitrogen (NO3, NH4), tritium, Pu, Np, Cr, and U. The bioremediation and natural attenuation areas have both basic research and field application foci for the EB. The basic research foci are co-metabolism, biotreatability, biotransformation kinetics, and modeling of biogeochemical processes. The field application foci are co-metabolic techniques, biogeochemical assessment techniques, and modeling of attenuation and environmental fate. There is further scope for research for modification and applications in physical and chemical engineering processes and applications of genetically improved better strains of microbes to control effluent pollution more efficiently
