4.1.7. Research and technical aspects

Although there are a number of contaminants that are biodegradable, including petroleum hydrocarbons, alcohols and solvents, many widely used industrial chemicals such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, coal tars, chlorinated solvents, and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are not degraded so readily. So, more intensive research is needed, but funding for this kind of basic research is diminishing. Unlike the conventional treatment technologies, bioremediation technique must be tailored specifically to each polluted site. Each waste site has unique characteristics, and thus requires individual attention. As yet, official criteria for evaluating the success or failure of particular strategy have not been established.