Electromagnetic Pollution-Free Zone:
(De-toxication + Non-radiation)
Together with rapid industrialization, Increased urbanization has resulted in high levels of environmental pollutants with a consequent impact on human health. Presence of high levels of chemical (e.g. polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs)) and physical (e.g. strong electromagnetic fields (EMFs)) contaminants in the environment has resulted in two major types of pollutions that need serious attention due to their subsequent health hazards.
In this project we aim to tackle these two major environmental issues through the use of a combinational strategy. Incorporating phytoremediation (the use of plants to remediate pollutants) into a design made from special shielding (composite-polymer-skin) results in simultaneous mitigation and reduction of both pollutions. In this system transgenic plants with the ability to degrade chemical contaminants will be planted into a composite-polymer-skin that in turn act as a shield to exposure to high levels of EMFs. This strategy creates a cleaner environment with reduced levels of chemical and physical pollutants in the immediate surroundings of the building.
Recently, presence of high levels of electromagnetic pollution in the environment has raised debates and concerns in developing countries. This in particular is due to possible health hazards of exposure to electromagnetic fields or satellite jamming. These health risks have recently become under the scope of environmental researchers, building scientists and material specialists.
To create de-toxicated environment With regards to these concerns, harnessing unwanted exposure to (RF fields, EMR, EMF), we are implementing material and design strategies that help to transform the built environment into a healthier place to live.
Current research on electromagnetic pollution mitigations suggests alternative methods to shield, absorb or reflect back the waves through material solutions such as polyetherimide composite foams or some forms of polymer.
in a combinational strategy, we are taking this one step further and hypothesize a material that has two interrelated functions; a shielding canopy to protect interior spaces from EMR/EMF, and at the same time, capable of de-toxicating air through Phytoremediation.
Phytoremediation is considered as being efficient, eco-friendly and cost effective. Compared to some microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi which utilise chemical contaminants as a source of energy, plants have little inherent ability to phytodegrade pollutants. However, they can be improved for phytoremediation by transferring genes from external sources (e.g. transferring genes encoding enzymes for degradation of xenobiotics such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), benzene-toluene-ethylbenzene-xylene (BTEX), chlorophenols etc. from fungi into plants). Consequently, pollutants can be phytodegraded to non-toxic metabolites or completely mineralized into carbon dioxide, nitrate, ammonia, chlorine etc. by transgenic plants. Plants have the advantage of being able to grow independently using sunlight water and inorganic ions. They are not only robust in growth, but also are a renewable resource and can be utilised for in situ bioremediation.
In this project we aim to create and utilise transgenic plants that are able to remove pollutants from the surrounding environment. To do this, genes involved in degradation of pollutants will be isolated from fungi (e.g. from Cunninghamella elegans and/or white-rot fungi with ability to degrade and transform many environmental pollutants such as PAHs, benzo[a]pyrene etc.) and introduced into candidate plants (e.g. Leuceana, poplar tree) using direct DNA methods of gene transfer (e.g. particle gun bombardment). Following genetic confirmation of the insertion and expression of the new inserted gene into the plant genome, the new transgenic plant with enhanced bioremediation ability will be planted into specially designed spaces made of specific EMF shielding
polymer.
