Mycelium and its benfits in urban areas
As it stands, microfiltration is still a young science. But while its existing commercial applications are scarce, the potential of mycelium for treating water and soil is supported through scientific research. Since the 1980s it has been documented how fungi break down and remove persistent pollutants in soil and other substrates. Including petrochemicals, heavy metals, polyautocratic hydrocarbons and pesticides. White-rot fungi are among the few organisms that can digest lignin (the complex chemical that creates the tough woody material found in trees and some plants) This capability also enables fungi to break down pollutants.
Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushrooms) are cultivated for food and found growing wild across the UK. Laboratory tests have demonstrated the ability of Pleurotus mycelium to break down hydrocarbons in oil by up to 98%. It was used it to clean up an oil spill in San Francisco bay in 2007. And University of Helsinki scientists found that the presence of fungi removed 70-84% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) – compounds released by burning organic matter such as fossil fuels – from contaminated soil. Compared to only 29-43% using naturally occurring soil microorganisms. Numerous mycoremediation studies indicate the potential for mycelium to treat urban stormwater, which is heavily polluted from oil leakage and microplastics from car emissions and leakage.
Pleurotus ostreatus (oyster mushrooms) are cultivated for food and found growing wild across the UK. Laboratory tests have demonstrated the ability of Pleurotus mycelium to break down hydrocarbons in oil by up to 98%. It was used it to clean up an oil spill in San Francisco bay in 2007. And University of Helsinki scientists found that the presence of fungi removed 70-84% of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) – compounds released by burning organic matter such as fossil fuels – from contaminated soil. Compared to only 29-43% using naturally occurring soil microorganisms. Numerous mycoremediation studies indicate the potential for mycelium to treat urban stormwater, which is heavily polluted from oil leakage and microplastics from car emissions and leakage.
It is mycelium's application in SuD systems where my main interest lies. While rainwater retention is a popular urban design trend, not much is being included to facilitate thorough treatment of the water that is channelled directly into our groundwater. The plants included in urban rain gardens will have a positive effect, but it is my belief that this is not sufficient in combatting urban water pollution. When dealing with traditional drainage, contaminated water is piped to treatment plants or at least out of the residential area, however with the aim of SuD systems being retaining water on site and allowing it to percolate into the underlying substrate, proper remediation measures need to be standardized to prevent further groundwater contamination.
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