L2M – Land to Sea : A Bio alliance for a sea of hope

The expanding economy, coupled with increased human activities and the rising demand for petroleum hydrocarbons, has led to a surge in high-risk pollutants like Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX). These carcinogenic chemicals are notorious for their potential to escape from storage tanks, pipelines, and oil tankers, infiltrating the ocean’s subsurface. Once in the environment, BTEX can contaminate groundwater, endanger delicate marine ecosystems like coral reefs, and seep into coastal aquifers. This pollution poses a significant threat to public health, particularly for the 9 million Canadians who rely on groundwater for drinking water, most of whom are in Eastern Canada. Despite the concerted efforts of governmental agencies, research institutes, and environmental remediation companies to address BTEX contamination from oil spills along the Canadian East Coast, existing technologies remain ineffective, lacking specificity and often falling short in their impact. As a result, 3 out of 5 remediation and environmental companies in Eastern Canada are leaving conventional approaches for bioremediation technologies. These innovative approaches promise to accelerate BTEX degradation, offer greater contaminant specificity, and keep groundwater free from toxic substances. The widespread adoption of bioremediation could save billions in healthcare costs over the coming decades by preventing the illnesses associated with BTEX-contaminated water.

Faculty Supervisor:

Satinder Brar

Student:

Partner:

Springboard Atlantic Inc.

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Water; Environmental Science and Technology; Oil and Gas

University:

York University

Program: