Dr. Waltena Simpson ‘91, 1890 Researcher and Associate Professor of Molecular Biology, to appear on  WLTX News 19

Dr. Waltena Simpson ‘91, 1890 Research & Extension scientist and associate professor of molecular biology, will be featured on WLTX News 19, the CBS affiliate in Columbia, S.C., Monday, July 19 at 11 p.m.

 

Simpson’s bioremediation study may one day aid oil cleanups similar to the massive efforts underway in the Gulf. The microbiologist is working with the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) in Aiken, S.C. to clean soils in South Carolina contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or PAHs. PAHs are pollutants derived from the burning of petroleum-based products. Simpson and the SRNL are using microbes to degrade the presence of the pollutants found in soil. More specifically, Simpson is working to increase the rate at which the microorganisms breakdown the pollutants, known to be harmful to the environment and humans. Though it is somewhat too early to determine, Simpson says the bacteria hold promise to assist with the cleaning of oil spills because they have proven to be useful in degrading PAH-contaminated soil.

 

For details on Simpson’s study, read Discovered bacteria may clean contaminated soils.

 

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The 1890 Research & Extension Program, the cornerstone of the historical land-grant status of South Carolina State University, assists diverse rural and urban limited-resource audiences in South Carolina by conducting research that seeks to address the problems affecting state residents and offering lifelong learning opportunities through its many outreach programs.