If I had to explain the term "bioremediation" to a normal person, how would I phrase it?

Question

Looking for a way to get someone with no background in biology or environmental sciences to understand the concept. Thanks.

Answer 1

Bioremediation: the use of living creatures (generally, though not necessarily, microscopic or very small creatures) to solve environmental problems. Bacteria that "eat" oil spills is the classic example; the introduction of beneficial insects into a garden to consume pest insects is another.

Answer 2

I like the first answer. By that definition alone, though, human beings who use skimming equipment to clean up oil spills qualify as "bioremediation". Does the work that's done need to be done through the organism's own biology (like the bacteria who metabolize the oil) to qualify? Some of the insects we introduce to gardens to control invading pests do so by eating the pests, and some do so by simply keeping them away. Are both of these "bioremedial" or only one? (That oil-spill worker is doing the work to earn the paycheck that will feed himself; so even though he's not eating the oil himself, the work indirectly serves his own biological needs.)

Answer 3

Well first define remediation in simple terms. The make sure they know bio-means life. The first answer is good and just to add to that explain that we use it to be more environmentally friendly and we don't have to clean-up our clean-up because we used something natural and not a harmful chemical and such.