Bacteria Ate 82 Percent of Oilspill Pollution in Mestersvig, Greenland

In an experiment at the old abandoned military station Mestersvig on Greenland’s east coast, some 200 kilometers north of Ittoqqortoormit, natural soil bacteria have cleansed 82 percent of oil polluted soil, according to KNR.

A 2008 report documented extensive oil spill, waste, and other rubbish. The Danish defense as well as the NIRAS engineering company initiated an experiment in which the best possible conditions were created for natural soil bacteria, which may break down pollution in nature.

The bacteria as well as the breaking down of oil spill was monitored on an on-going basis by researchers from Copenhagen University and GEUS. After five years, they could verify that bacteria have cleansed 82 percent out of a total 5,000 tons of polluted soil.

The results may have major significance for oil spill pollution at other disused military stations around the country.