in the 70's they made a orginism that ate oil and released it into the ocean to clean oil spills?

Question

i have never herd any thing about again since i was ten years old what became of it are we trackig it did it die off?

Answer 1

They're still used in limited areas. But, the bacteria don't last long in the wild. You have to release new ones for each spill.

Answer 2

This is referred to as bioremediation. Here are some advantages according to wikipedia:
"There are a number of cost/efficiency advantages to bioremediation, which can be employed in areas that are inaccessible without excavation. For example, hydrocarbon spills (specifically, petrol spills) or certain chlorinated solvents may contaminate groundwater, and introducing the appropriate electron acceptor or electron donor amendment, as appropriate, may significantly reduce contaminant concentrations after a lag time allowing for acclimation. This is typically much less expensive than excavation followed by disposal elsewhere, incineration or other ex situ treatment strategies, and reduces or eliminates the need for "pump and treat", a common practice at sites where hydrocarbons have contaminated groundwater."

See this site for more info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioremediation

Answer 3

They were never expected to survive in the wild. They starved out within months of release. That happens when you put a very simple organism out in a complex environment. They never really had a chance.

Answer 4

Companies like BioTech Products have taken it to the next level. Below, from their site:

*** OIL SPILL CLEANUP READINESS ***

Product, Equipment and Staff immediately available to resolve oil spill cleanup issues.
For more information please view the link below:

BioWorld Information for Environmental Cleanup

Answer 5

TRY MAYBE LOOKING DOWN THROUGH THIS LIST I HAVE FOUND FOR YOU, MAYBE YOU'LL FIND YOUR ANSWER IN THERE SOMEWHERE.