Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Soils

Under extensive pollution of soils and sediments by oil hydrocarbons in the conditions of oil and gas industry development it is necessary to develop urgent measures of soil detoxication and preservation of soil organisms with the aim of agricultural use. The soil contamination by hydrocarbons occurs in the regions of oil harvesting and under oil products transportation. The cleaning from oil contamination is nowadays a global problem. The application of chemical substances for the neutralization of hydrocarbons brought more harm than good. Soil is a living ecosystem, because it is the habitat of microbes, mushrooms, worms, and smallest insects, plants root systems. Hydrocarbons disturb gas exchange, air temperature, kill living world, disturb ecology not only in the soil, but also in surrounding atmosphere. This chapter presents a brief overview of the current state of pollution and attempts of soil restoration, avoidance of chemicals application, and soil environment enrichment by biological methods using plants, biological preparations, and mineral fossils.