"Mangrove Microbes" ... A Treatment for Oil-Contaminated Soil
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has completed a research project aimed at harnessing mangrove microbes (microorganisms) to treat soil contaminated with oil, a step that bolsters Kuwait’s efforts to protect and sustain its coastal ecosystems and develop innovative scientific solutions for remediating oil-contaminated soil using local microorganisms.
In this context, Dr. Abrar Akbar, a co-researcher on the Food Security Program, emphasized that the project responds to the environmental challenges facing Kuwait’s mangrove forests and coastal areas, resulting from human pressures and pollution by oil and heavy metals. She noted that these environments are among the most productive and diverse ecosystems, playing a pivotal role in maintaining ecological balance and supporting biodiversity.
Dr. Akbar explained that the project focused on studying microbial diversity in mangrove sediments along the Kuwaiti coast using the latest high-throughput DNA sequencing technologies, alongside isolating local bacterial strains capable of degrading crude oil and utilizing it as a nutrient source. The study also evaluated their efficiency in bioremediation within experimental systems simulating oil-contaminated coastal soil.
She added that the project’s results represent the first comprehensive scientific database documenting the microbial diversity and functional capabilities of microbial communities in Kuwait’s mangrove sediments. The study revealed the presence of bacterial species performing critical ecological roles, including the degradation of petroleum compounds, sulfur cycling, organic matter decomposition, and biofilm formation, thereby enhancing these environments’ capacity to restore their natural balance.
Genetic analyses showed the existence of specialized metabolic pathways responsible for breaking down petroleum hydrocarbons, including genes associated with the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and toluene. The study also recorded seasonal variations in microbial community composition, with higher levels of diversity and balance observed during the warm season, providing important scientific indicators for monitoring ecosystem health and the impacts of climate change.
Bioremediation experiments yielded promising results, as bioaugmentation and biostimulation strategies contributed to reducing total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations by up to 76 percent, alongside a significant decrease in PAH levels. This confirms the efficiency of local microbial communities in restoring damaged coastal soil through environmentally friendly and sustainable methods.
Dr. Akbar clarified that the project’s outputs will provide crucial reference data to support mangrove habitat restoration programs in Kuwait, enhance coastal pollution monitoring efforts, and develop national strategies based on nature-based solutions for managing coastal ecosystems, aligning with the state’s direction toward achieving environmental sustainability and preserving natural resources for future generations.
She concluded her statement by expressing her appreciation for the support provided by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) and the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), affirming that this support played a fundamental role in completing the project and achieving its scientific results, which open new horizons for bioremediation applications and the protection of Kuwait’s coastal environment.
